Description
Denomination: Silver groat (4d or four pennies)
Period: Tudor
Date: 1554
Origin: London mint
Condition: Fine. shadowy portrait but good for type
Obverse: Crowned bust of Mary alone. left. PHILIP Z MARIA D G REX Z REGINA
Reverse: Long cross over royal shield. POSUI MUS DEU M ADIUTO NOS
Size and Weight: 23mm. 1.90g
References: Spink 2508
Features and Provenance: Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Henry was initially devoted to his first born but as she grew and his obsession for a son and heir intensified. his attentions drifted to Anne Boleyn. With the birth of Elizabeth. Mary was demoted to lady-in-waiting to her half sister. given the smallest room in the palace and styled Lady Mary instead of Princess.
Henry tried to marry her off on multiple occasions but nothing was to materialise. She became Queen in 1553 after. she was usurped by Lady Jane Grey. and married Philip. King of Spain the year later (our coin indicates both names) to bolster her Roman Catholic devotion. but he later abandoned her after a phantom pregnancy. She is also known as ‘Bloody Mary’ for her treatment of religious non-conformists where hundreds were put to death. She died during a flu epidemic that took a fifth of the population at the time! Elizabeth then ascended to the throne.
Mary I is not to be confused with the ‘Queen of Scots’ who was the only legitimate child of James V of Scotland.
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades in 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
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