England · Elizabeth I (1558–1603)

England Threepence — Elizabeth I, Early Third-Issue Portrait (1561–1567)

Image pending

About this coin

The early dated threepence has a rose behind the portrait and a divided royal shield. Pheon and later pictorial marks distinguish its successive issues.

Obverse

The crowned queen faces left, with a rose behind her head.

Script: Latin

Lettering

ELIZABETH D G ANG FRA ET HI REGINA

Translation

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

Reverse

The quartered royal shield rests on a long cross fourchée; the date is above.

Script: Latin

Lettering

POSVI DEV AD IVTORE M MEV

Translation

I have made God my helper.

Mints and mintmarks

Royal Mint at the Tower of London.

Engraver and mintmaster marks

Pheon; rose; lion; portcullis; coronet.

Identification and varieties

The table records confirmed dates and marks. Lettering and punctuation differ between dies. Measurements may describe an individual surviving specimen rather than the original mint standard.

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
1561London (Tower)Pheon
1562London (Tower)Pheon
1563London (Tower)Pheon
1564London (Tower)Pheon
1565London (Tower)Pheon
1565London (Tower)Rose
1566London (Tower)Lion
1566London (Tower)Portcullis
1567London (Tower)Coronet
1567London (Tower)Lion
1561London (Tower) · Pheon
1562London (Tower) · Pheon
1563London (Tower) · Pheon
1564London (Tower) · Pheon
1565London (Tower) · Pheon
1565London (Tower) · Rose
1566London (Tower) · Lion
1566London (Tower) · Portcullis
1567London (Tower) · Coronet
1567London (Tower) · Lion

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