Scotland 1561 testoon
This specimen was lot 41550 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $16,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "Choice Mary Queen of Scots Portrait Testoon, SCOTLAND. Testoon, 1561. Edinburgh Mint. Mary. PCGS AU-50 Gold Shield. Emanating from the period of the queen's first widowhood, this alluring silver striking stands as an excellent survivor, remaining free from any handling issues, though exhibiting some flan flaws on and above her face as well as some doubling around her nose and forehead. Quite elegantly toned, it features some deeper cobalt and burgundy as one approaches the obverse peripheries, while some lighter cobalt, seafoam green, and rose gold is clear throughout the reverse. A truly magnificent specimen, and undoubtedly one of the finest that one is likely to encounter."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: S-5422.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Man & Lundy), Pre-Decimal Issues, 2nd edition, London: Spink & Son, 2003.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of the Coins of Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man, London: Coincraft, 1999.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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