Mary I Coin – Silver Groat Pomegranate Mint Mark 1553-1554

Description

Heading: Mary I Coin – silver groate pomegranate mint mark 1553-1554

Denomination: Silver groat (4d or four pennies)

Period: Tudor

Date: 1153-1554

Origin: London mint

Condition: Fine. shadowy portrait but good for type. signs of buckling

Obverse: Crowned bust of Mary alone. left. MARIA (Pomegranate) D G ANG FRA Z HIB REGINA

Reverse: Long cross over royal shield. VERITAS TEMPORIS FILIA

Size and Weight: 23mm. 1.84g

References: Spink 2492. North 1960

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 the usurpation by Lady Jane Grey failed; she then married Philip. King of Spain a year later 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.

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