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Auction: 4026 - Ancient, English and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 152

Elizabeth I (1558-1603), first issue, Sovereign, 15.12g., queen enthroned holding orb and sceptre, portcullis at feet, tressure broken by back of throne, pellet decoration on throne back and pillars, elizabeth d g ang fra z hib regina, two pellets after regina, rev., square-topped shield in centre of Tudor rose, adno factv est istv z est mira in ocvl nris, pellet or double pellet stops, m.m. lis (Brown & Comber A1; Schneider 729 (same rev. die), N.1978; S.2511), small edge crack between F and R of FRA, otherwise very fine with a good portrait, extremely rare of this issue Estimate £ 6,000-8,000 provenance: A Magnaguti, P & P Santamaria (Rome), 5 October 1959, lot 187 Spink Numismatic Circular, December 1972, no.11566 The first issue Sovereigns of Elizabeth I, with mintmark lis and the reading Z for ET, are extremely rare. They are struck from three obverse dies (B&C A2 with one pellet after regina (2 dies), and B&C A1 and A3 with two pellets after regina (1 die)), and three reverse dies (B&C A1 reading mira; B&C A2 reading mirabi and nris, and B&C A3 reading mirabi and nri). Only one other example has appeared at auction in the last forty years and it is possible that as few as seven exist in total (4 B&C A1; 1 B&C A2(i) (Ryan 268); 1 B&C A2(ii)/1 (Schneider 729); and 1 B&C A3 (BM)).

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£12,500