Philip & Mary (1554 - 1558) – see also
the IRISH hammered section
Sixpence
WTH-7602:
1554 Philip
& Mary Facing Busts Hammered Silver Sixpence. Full titles, dated 1554 –
Spink 2505. Ex
Mike Vosper (his ticket), ex Colin Campbell collection (his ticket). £465
Groat
WTH-7771:
Philip &
Mary Tudor Hammered Silver Groat. Initial mark Lis, 1554-58, Spink 2508. A single portrait, left, of Mary but with the
legend PHILIP ET MARIA indicating this coin is 1554-58, after Mary married
Philip of Spain. Interestingly, all the
silver denominations of this reign higher than a groat had busts of Mary AND
Philip but groats and below only had Mary's bust. This may well be a result of lack of space on
a smaller flan but bearing in mind the vast majority of the general population
at the time would only ever handle these smaller denominations, the crown was
perhaps missing a trick in getting out the message to the populace (and coinage
was really the only way of doing this) that Philip was here. Or perhaps this was a calculated act on
behalf of the crown in an effort not to upset the Joe Public apply cart?! A terrific example of this
usually worn and problematic issue.
£595
WTH-7977:
Philip and Mary
Hammered Silver Tudor Groat. Initial mark Lis, 1554-58. Spink 2508. Mary was the only child of Henry VIII (her
mother was Catherine of Aragon) to survive to adulthood. Mary quickly and efficiently disposed of Lady
Jane Gray – proclaimed Queen when Mary’s younger brother Edward VI, died at age
9 – by beheading her, a process not unfamiliar to her, being the daughter of
Henry VIII!! Mary’s marriage to Philip
of Spain was entirely political – his close aid once wrote: "The marriage
was concluded for no fleshly consideration!" Ex Lingford
(December 1948) collection, ex Chris Comber collection. £565 RESERVED (M.He.14-2-24
Lay-Away)
Pence
WTH-7603:
Philip &
Mary Hammered Silver Billon Penny.
P.Z.M. etc,
WTH-6568: Philip and Mary Hammered
Billon Silver Penny. Initial mark
halved sun & rose. Very clear legends and above average for this generally poor issue. Spink 2510A. Reported to have been
circulated as a halfpenny. £165
Mary (1553 – 1554) Read about Mary
Groat
WTH-7978:
Mary Hammered
Silver Tudor Groat. Initial mark Pomegranate, 1553-4 only. Spink 2592. Mary was the only child of Henry VIII (her
mother was Catherine of Aragon) to survive to adulthood. Mary quickly and efficiently disposed of Lady
Jane Gray – proclaimed Queen when Mary’s younger brother Edward VI, died at age
9 – by beheading her, a process not unfamiliar to her, being the daughter of
Henry VIII!! This issue was immediately
prior to Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain in July of 1554. An often problematic issue
- thinner planchets and a "shiny AR alloy" with a propensity for
wear. This coin is a superb
example for issue, being much better in the hand compared to the somewhat
indifferent image above. Rare. £735
