Edward VI Half Sovereign, Second period, Tower mint, crowned bust mm arrow

Edward VI (1547-53), gold Half-Sovereign of Ten Shillings struck in 22 carat gold, second period (January 1549 - April 1550), Tower I Mint, crowned head bust right, beaded circles and legend surrounding, Roman style lettering with lozenge stops, initial mark arrow both sides, EDWARD. VI. D'. G'. AGL'. FRA. Z. HIB': REX., rev. quartered shield of arms in crowned frame, E to left, R to right, beaded circles and legend surrounding, rosette stops, SCVTVM* FIDEI* PROTEGET* EVM*, weight 5.25g (Schneider 672; Hill H165 R2; N.1911; S.2438). Toned, well centered, light die flaw in obverse field, weak at lower right of shield, otherwise a bold very fine.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Edward by the Grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland" and on the reverse "The shield of faith shall protect him."

The second period of coinage under King Edward VI shows a confident return to the 22-carat standard for a gold Half-Sovereign struck in "crown gold" in the name of the boy King showing a crowned head and shoulder effigy facing right. The mint mark of swan is representative of the activity at the Tower I Mint under Sir Martin Bowes the Under-Treasurer. Along with the mintmark of arrow the swan mark relates to the accounting time period 24^th January 1549-18^th December 1550. Mint marks arrow and swan account for an output of some £48,246 worth of gold coinage.