Elizabeth I Gold “Ship” Royal Sails into Record-Setting Bid

A queen reigned at Heritage Auction’s November 6–7 World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction, which earned an impressive cumulative total of $5,725,535.

The woman and coin in question were the British monarch Elizabeth I (1558–1603), and a circa 1584–1586 gold “Ship” ryal of 15 shillings (MS63 NGC). Selling at a never-before-seen price for an Elizabeth “Ship” ryal at $372,000, this issue was from the famous Cara Collection of Highly Provenanced British Rarities, which was in its second sale at Heritage Auctions. The coin was previously sold from the Thomas Law collection in 2013 and was in the collections of Reverend Mallinson and W. Clarkson.

“This is an incredible coin from an incredible collection, and it’s only appropriate that it produced a record result,” says Heritage Auction’s Managing Director of World & Ancient Coins, Kyle Johnson. “It is one of the most coveted and eagerly pursued pieces among British numismatic collectors and among the last coins struck in this medieval design style. These types are incredibly rare, one of the greatest numismatic rarities of the Elizabethan era.”
Only a handful of these ryals were minted between 1584 and 1586 and were usually of low grade. It is believed to have been made in response to the gold that was captured from galleons during Francis Drake’s plundering of Spanish ships.

Among the ornate designs and symbols on the coin is the likeness of Elizabeth I on a ship, dressed in her signature ruff and gown and holding an orb and scepter. In this portrait, she represents England’s dominance of the seas, which at the time was at the beginning of American colonization and later defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.
On the coin’s reverse is a floriated cross at the center with a rose on a radiant sun, and crowned lions in the angles. The text encircling the center images reads, “IHS AVT TRANSIENS PER MEDIV ILLORVM IBAT.”

Also at the auction was another iconic British design: a 1839 Victoria gold proof “Una and the Lion” 5 pounds (PR62 Deep Cameo PCGS) that sold for $234,000. Another 1839 Victoria gold proof “Una and the Lion” 5 pounds, although repaired, brought a lesser, though still noteworthy $81,000 at the sale.

For the results of the November 6–7 World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction, visit HA.com/3126.

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