Lot 2065
Great Britain. Angel, Nd. S.2531; Fr-200. Elizabeth I, 1583-1603. Sixth issue, mint mark Bell (1582-3). Obverse: St. Michael slaying dragon. Reverse Ship to left bearing shield and cross, E and rose at sides. A most handsome coin, well struck on a full flan. Scarcer type and a good mint mark. Very slight original die cracks producing tiny raised lines on the obverse surface add to the distinctive appeal. Lustrous and scarce in this grade. NGC graded MS-62.
* This coin was probably struck in 1583, just five years before the despatch of the Spanish Armada. The arrival in England in 1568 of Mary Queen of Scots and her imprisonment by Elizabeth caused a political crisis, and a rebellion of the feudal nobility of the north followed in 1569. Intense rivalry between English and Spanish sailors hastened the breach with Spain. When the Dutch rebelled against Spanish tyranny Elizabeth secretly encouraged them. Philip II retaliated by aiding Catholic conspiracies against her.
The period 1578-1582 was a time of undeclared war, and exploration of the 'New World'. Later, the landing of an English army in the Netherlands in 1585 and Mary's execution in 1587 brought conflict with Spain into the open. Several years later Philip's Armada (the fleet sent to invade England in 1588) met with total disaster.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
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