England (1585-87) ryal Fr-210
This specimen was lot 20106 in Ponterio sale 176 (Chicago, August 2013), where it sold for $105,750. The catalog description[1] noted,
"GREAT BRITAIN. Elizabeth I, 1558-1603. Ryal, ND (1585-87). Escallop. Very Rare Elizabeth Fine Gold Ryal Queen Elizabeth standing on ship, wearing ornate dress and distinctive ruff; rose at bottom center. Rv. Floriated cross with lions within a tressure of eight arches; rose on radiant sun at center. The reverse is similar [to] the Mary Ryal of this style. Very rare and distinctive. A beautifully designed type with exquisite details and die workmanship. This rarity came from the Mallinson collection sale and boasts an older pedigree—Reverend Mallinson was a superb caretaker of his magnificent cabinet, just as Mr. Law was. There is some light wear exhibited on the face, but the reverse displays frosty luster and has the appearance of a Mint State example. Shortened legends at the edge from 8 to 11 o’clock exhibit some roughness, which appears as made (though the Spink catalogers considered it clipping back in 1984). This coin hammered down at £6,000 nearly thirty years ago! With rarities such as this always garnering worldwide attention, this beautiful coin is sure to sell for multiples of that figure. Overall, a wonderful example of a coin that is virtually impossible to obtain. About Extremely Fine. Ex: Spink's 1984 Mallinson Sale, No. 39, Lot 89; previously W. N. Clarkson Collection (lot 45); bought at Spink from Samuel Spink by Reverend Mallinson."
This ryal was tariffed at fifteen shillings.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, 120 grains, this specimen 117.2 grains.
Catalog reference: S-2530; North-2004; Fr-210.
- 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.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, and Bruce Roland Hagen, Ponterio sale 176: The Thos. H. Law Collection of English Gold Coins, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2013.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
Link to: