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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,172 |
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Valued Member
Poland
392 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2703 Posts |
Very nice portrait on your 1571 Elizabeth I half-groat!  Looks like it has an ermine mint mark. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
t360- how can you determine the mint of this type of half-groat?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2703 Posts |
The ermine is at 1:00 in the legend just above the 7 in the date. This reference chart on Tudor & Stuart Mintmarks at the Portable Antiquities Scheme website shows that the Tower mint (London) used the ermine mintmark on Elizabeth's coins from 1572-3. Looking again at the date again on this coin, I think it may actually be 1572. Edited by t360
10/13/2008 2:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2703 Posts |
Why use an ermine for a mintmark? The ermine was considered a symbol of purity in Europe and white fur made from its winter coat was used to trim coats and stoles worn by royalty. Here is a painting of Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen, with an ermine on her arm.  Edited by t360
10/13/2008 2:37 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
Looks like a gerbil to me.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2217 Posts |
Actually, it's just a stoat in it's winter coat - that's when it's called an ermine. An ermine should be a little bigger than a gerbil. I didn't know about the association between the white of ermines and purity but thanks for the explanation.
So why was she known as 'the virgin Queen' anyway? I don't believe it was true?...
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Valued Member
United States
156 Posts |
Elizabeth was 'the virgin Queen' because she decided to to turn a weakness into a strength. The weakness? She was infertile (or at least she thought she was infertile, which is much the same thing).
There appeared to her to be no sufficient advantage to any possible marriage partner. After all, her choices were limited to either: a) one of her own subjects, or b) a foreigner. Either way, why risk coming under the influence of a man who would his own agenda?
Instead, she developed a royal court where the courtiers were literally courting her, currying the temporary favors of a forever unattainable Queen.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2217 Posts |
Thanks for the explication Buzzard  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day,
quote: "She was infertile ..."
- Stuart propaganda: nothing more.
quote: "There appeared to her to be no sufficient advantage to any possible marriage partner ..."
- indeed, the most advantageous course was undoubtedly to remain unmarried.
And, she left us some wonderful coins to collect !
Peter
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Valued Member
 Poland
392 Posts |
My new British coins  Farthing 1737 (George II of Great Britain)  1/2 pence 1797 (George III of Great Britain)  Farthing 1807 (George III of Great Britain)  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2217 Posts |
Nice Half-Groat Dagon |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,172 |
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Posted 10/13/2008 1:27 pm
