DO NOT BID
Struck in the twilight years of Elizabeth I's reign, this Gold One Pound is a majestic artifact from the golden age of English expansion and the flourishing Elizabethan Renaissance. Issued during the sixth coinage period (1583–1600), this denomination was among the highest in circulation and intended for significant transactions or elite reserves. These large gold coins are scarce in any state of preservation, and mint state survivors like this one are highly coveted.
Obverse: Depicts Queen Elizabeth I crowned and armored, facing left. She wears an elaborate ruffled collar and bodice, embodying the regal strength and style of the Tudor court. The surrounding Latin legend reads: “ELIZABETH D G ANG FRA ET HIB REGINA” – “Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland.”
Reverse: Displays the crowned royal arms of England quartered with France (as claimed), flanked by E–R (Elizabeth Regina). The inscription encircling the shield reads: “SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM” – “The shield of faith shall protect her,” a spiritual and political motto underscoring divine protection.
This example, graded PCGS MS61, is a sharply struck and visually compelling survivor with robust luster and only modest surface chatter typical for hammered coinage of the era. Its strike and condition place it among the better preserved of these rare large gold coins, offering collectors a direct connection to the rule of England’s most iconic monarch.
