England · Elizabeth I (1558–1603)

England Ryal — Elizabeth I, Sixth Issue (1583–1592)

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About this coin

The fifteen-shilling ship ryal retains a medieval full-length queen and radiant rose design. Its privy marks occur on the reverse; sail arrangements and the position of the ship within the lettering distinguish varieties.

Obverse

The queen stands in a ship holding orb and sceptre. A rose ornaments the hull and an E appears on a banner.

Script: Latin

Lettering

ELIZAB D G ANG FR ET HIB REGINA

Translation

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

Reverse

A rose on a radiant sun fills the centre of a cross with floriated terminals, crowned lions in its angles and an eight-arched tressure.

Script: Latin

Lettering

IHS AVT TRANSIENS PER MEDIV ILLORVM IBAT

Translation

But Jesus, passing through their midst, went his way.

Mints and mintmarks

Royal Mint at the Tower of London.

Engraver and mintmaster marks

Reverse only: A, escallop, crescent and hand.

Identification and varieties

Dating of the early A and escallop marks differs between chronological systems. The table uses the conventional auction ranges 1583–1585 and 1585–1587; other datings place them at 1582–1584 and 1584–1586. The later crescent and hand varieties extend the type. No issue in every intervening year is implied.

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 (1583–1585)London (Tower)A (reverse)Queen in ship
ND (1585–1587)London (Tower)Escallop (reverse)Rose on radiant sunEarlier dating also given as 1584–1586.
ND (1587–1590)London (Tower)Crescent (reverse)Two left sail furls; three or four at right
ND (1590–1592)London (Tower)Hand (reverse)Three sail furls at left; two at right
ND (1583–1585)London (Tower) · A (reverse)Queen in ship
ND (1585–1587)London (Tower) · Escallop (reverse)Rose on radiant sun

Earlier dating also given as 1584–1586.

ND (1587–1590)London (Tower) · Crescent (reverse)Two left sail furls; three or four at right
ND (1590–1592)London (Tower) · Hand (reverse)Three sail furls at left; two at right

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