England · Elizabeth I (1558–1603)

England Gold Half Crown — Elizabeth I, Second Issue (1561–1565)

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About this coin

The second-issue gold half crown carries a small crowned portrait and the shield-of-faith motto. The cross-crosslet privy mark and abbreviated titles identify this early type.

Obverse

Crowned bust of Elizabeth facing left.

Script: Latin

Lettering

ELIZABETH D G AN FR ET HI REGINA

Translation

Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland.

Reverse

A crown surmounts the quartered royal shield between E and R.

Script: Latin

Lettering

SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM

Translation

The shield of faith shall protect her.

Mints and mintmarks

Royal Mint at the Tower of London.

Engraver and mintmaster marks

Cross-crosslet.

Identification and varieties

Undated hammered coinage. Privy-mark date ranges are conventional attributions, not dates inscribed on the coins. Legends and stops vary by die. Measurements describe recorded specimens. This table records confirmed varieties, not every surviving die.

Measurements

Recorded specimen measurements, not a fixed specification for every coin. Hammered flans vary.

Years, mintmarks and variants

Tap an issue for details and places to find it.

YearMintMintmarkVariantMintageNotesFind this issue
ND (1561–1565)London (Tower)Cross-crossletBust 3FCrowned shield between E and R; recorded specimen 1.39 g.
ND (1561–1565)London (Tower) · Cross-crossletBust 3F

Crowned shield between E and R; recorded specimen 1.39 g.

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