England (1582-83) 1/2 angel Fr-212
This specimen was lot 1120 in Goldberg Sale 137 (Los Angeles, January 2024), where it sold for $11,100. The catalog description[1] noted, "Great Britain. Half Angel, ND. Elizabeth I, 1558-1603. Fifth Issue, 1583-1600. Mint mark, Bell (1582-3). St. Michael slaying dragon. Reverse: Cross and arms on ship. E and rose behind mast. Very difficult to obtain in grades above fine condition, this remarkabl[y] well struck example in this top quality make[s] this a irreplaceable rarity. Pop 1; The Finest graded at NGC. Only one graded. NGC graded MS-63. Ex Goldberg Sale 34, Feb 5, 2006, lot 2226." This half angel was struck throughout Elizabeth's sixth coinage (1582-1600) along with a full angel (Fr-211) and quarter angel (Fr-213). In Elizabeth's time the angel was woth six shillings eight pence, making this coin three shillings four pence. The last angel was struck for Charles I (Fr-245), by which time its value had risen to ten shillings.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, 45 grains (2.59 g); this specimen 2.46 g.
Catalog reference: S.2532; Fr-212.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg Sale 137: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, featuring the Peh Family Collection, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2023.
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