Half Sovereign: Edward VI (obverse); Crowned Royal Arms (reverse)

Description

During the first coinage period, April 1547 to January 1549, debased coinage was still issued. Part of it still had the name and portrait of Henry VIII; part of it the name of Henry, but a youthful portrait; and part of it the name of Edward. The series is thus complex and some of the chronology open to doubt. In 1549, the beginning of the second coinage period, the first step was taken to restore the standard of the coinage. Gold, including the piece shown, was struck in 22 ct. This coin shows the young king uncrowned, the only occasion on which the king's portrait is so shown.

Provenance

Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art (-1969); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1969-)

Half Sovereign: Edward VI (obverse); Crowned Royal Arms (reverse)

[]

1549–50

Accession Number

1969.175

Medium

gold

Dimensions

Diameter: 2.9 cm (1 1/8 in.)

Classification

Coins

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

The Norweb Collection