England · Elizabeth I (1558–1603)

England Gold Half Crown — Elizabeth I, Third-Issue Portcullis and Coronet (1566–1570)

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About this coin

The portcullis and coronet half crowns continue the small portrait-and-shield denomination. The portcullis variety has inverted letters in the reverse motto.

Obverse

Crowned bust of Elizabeth facing left.

Script: Latin

Lettering

ELIZABETH D G ANG 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

Portcullis; coronet.

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 (1566–1567)London (Tower)PortcullisBust 1GInverted A-shaped punches used in SCVTVM; single and double stops; specimen 1.41 g.
ND (1567–1570)London (Tower)CoronetGold half crownRecorded specimen 1.28 g.
ND (1566–1567)London (Tower) · PortcullisBust 1G

Inverted A-shaped punches used in SCVTVM; single and double stops; specimen 1.41 g.

ND (1567–1570)London (Tower) · CoronetGold half crown

Recorded specimen 1.28 g.

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