Sovereign: Mary Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on a Tudor Rose (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.179)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1553
Upon ascending the throne, Mary announced that she would restore the coinage to its full value. This sovereign of thirty shillings is of standard gold, 23 carats, 3 1/2 grains.
The fine silver pieces of the reign were in metal, 11 oz. fine. These coins are thus of the same fineness as were those of Edward VI; the silver is, in fact, 1 dwt. poorer. This coin is rare and similar to another in the collection from Edward VI, 1969.177 . Mary I was the only Tudor monarch to include dates on a sovereign. Roman numerals at the end of the obverse inscription read 1553. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.179: Sovereign: Mary Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on a Tudor Rose (reverse), 1553.
England, Mary, 1553-1554. Gold; diameter: 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.). Inscribed: MARIA: D': G': ANG'. FRA Z: HIB': REGINA: m:D:LIII (Mary by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland 1553); A DNO FACTV EST ISTV Z EST MIRA IN OCVL NRIS (This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.). Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Mary I, Queen of England from 1553–58, was also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" to her opponents.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold
Design
- Inscriptions
- MARIA: D': G': ANG'. FRA Z: HIB': REGINA: m:D:LIII (Mary by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland 1553); A DNO FACTV EST ISTV Z EST MIRA IN OCVL NRIS (This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.)
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1553
- Culture period
- England, Mary, 1553-1554
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.179
- Published references
- Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection . [Catalog. 1968. p. 38
- Museum classification
- Coins
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider coin type and standard catalogue references against numismatic literature.