1584-1586 Gold Sovereign Elizabeth I PCGS MS62

The 1584-1586 Queen Elizabeth I Gold Sovereign was struck during the height of Elizabeth's reign (1558-1603), amid pivotal events like the lead-up to the Spanish Armada in 1588. This gold Sovereign (also called a "fine sovereign" or double rose noble of 30 shillings) was part of Elizabeth's sixth issue (circa 1583-1600).

Obverse: The Queen seated on a large ornate throne, facing forward and holding the orb and scepter of state, with a portcullis below her feet, flanked by decorative pillars. Legend: "ELIZABETH D' G' ANG' FR' ET HIB' REGINA" (Elizabeth by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France, and Ireland)

Reverse: The royal coat of arms (quartered shield of England and France) superimposed on a grand Tudor rose. Legend: "A DOMINE FACTVM EST ISTVD ET EST MIRABILE IN OCVLIS NOSTRIS" (This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes)

An escallop (scallop shell), visible on both sides, indicating it was struck between 1584 and 1586 at the Tower Mint in London

The population rarity is exceptional:

• NGC Census data shows only a handful of 1584-86 sovereigns certified in AU and Mint State
• At the NGC AU-58 grade (just one notch above AU55), the population is only 10 coins, with merely 14 finer (MS) in the world
• It is likely that the AU55 specimen is among perhaps a dozen or two in the
• AU range across all grading services
•  Most known examples are well-worn or have significant flaws

This AU55 sovereign represents one of the best-preserved examples of Queen Elizabeth's coinage available to collectors, placing it in the upper echelon of surviving examples.