Tudor Coins – Philip & Mary I Silver Groat Lis – 1554-1558

Description

Header: Tudor Coins – Philip & Mary I, Silver Groat, Lis, 1554-1558

Denomination: Silver groat (2d)

Period: Tudor

Date: 1554-1558

Origin: London mint

Condition: AVF with reasonable portrait for type, two small gouges and dent

Obverse: Bust Mary facing in profile, left, lis initial mark, PHILIP ET MARIA D G REX ET REGINA

Reverse: Flat-topped shield with arms, cross fourchee over,  POSVI MUS DE UM ADIV TO NOS

Size and Weight: 23mm, 1.92g

References: Spink 250, North 1973

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 and 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.

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 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