Elizabethan Coins – Silver Milled Mestrelle Sixpence – 1562

Description

Heading: Elizabethan Coins – silver milled mestrelle sixpence 1562

Denomination: Silver milled sixpence

Period: Tudor

Date: 1562

Origin: Tower mint. London

Condition: Fine. with a few punch marks

Obverse: Crowned large broad bust. left. elaborately decorated dress. small rose behind head. *ELIZABETH D G ANG FRA ET HIB REGINA

Reverse: Long cross pattee over quartered shield of arms. date above. legend around. star mint mark POSVI DEVM ADIVTORE M MEVM

Size and Weight: 26mm. 2.90g

References: Spink 2597. North 2028

Features and Provenance: This was the first time that coins had not been produced by the anvil and hammer process. The French moneyer. Eloye Mestrelle. introduced a press that was powered by a horse drawn mill. it produced superior coins but took much longer and proved inefficient. It was withdrawn ten years later and he was later hanged for counterfeiting. although it is thought that these claims were invented. So called milled coinage would not be seen again for another hundred years.

Elizabeth reigned for 44 years. but never really should have taken the throne; fate. however. must have taken a hand in her destiny and it knew better than her father what she could achieve. There were numerous obstacles in her way: at that time only men were allowed to be monarchs. Henry’s young son Edward was the legitimate heir to the throne. there was also her elder sister; so she was third in line to the throne.

There was also the problem that Henry (and later Edward) declared her illegitimate after the execution of her mother. Anne Boleyn. It seemed everything was against her. After Henry’s death. Edward VI took the throne but only reigned for six years. dying at the age of fifteen. Mary. the next in line. only lasted five years. so it was left to Elizabeth to show them that a woman could be as effective on the English throne as a man could (or better). Ruling until 1603. she died at the age of 70.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible