Half sovereign of Edward VI

The really attractive hammered gold coin pictured here was found by Stephen Marnick. It has been reported and recorded but Stephen wanted to know what it might be worth.

The coin is a half sovereign of Edward VI. On the obverse is a half-length figure of the king holding a sword and an orb.  On the reverse is a crowned shield of arms flanked by E R. The mint mark is a rather narrow tun.

This half sovereign was struck during the third period so it dates from 1550-53. In the Standard Catalogue it is listed as number 2451.

Valuation

When found it was bent across the top. The coin was straightened out but the flan is still a bit uneven. However, the coin would grade VF and still has great eye appeal.

I traced several similar coins that had been sold at auction over recent years. It speedily became apparent that hammer prices were all over the place, with examples being sold for anything between £2,400 and $70,000. Some auctioneers achieved very high prices whilst others didn’t.

If I was cataloguing this coin for sale at auction then I would set the pre-sale estimate at £6,000-8,000. With the right auctioneer it might sell for more but, as already stated, it is vital to sell through the right firm.

Valuation Service

If you would like your coin identified or valued, please read about my valuation service and contact me