The Gary Oddie Collection of English Regal Shillings

Edward VI (1547-1553), First period, Pattern Shilling, mdxlvii [1547], in silver, possibly by A. Levens, mm. rose, crowned bust right, edward vi rex angl franc hiber z c, rev. timor domini fons vitæ and date, crowned oval garnished shield dividing e r, 5.63g/12h (Bispham pl. 2, 1, same dies; Potter, BNJ 1962, p.128; N 1953). A few light surface marks, otherwise obverse fine, reverse good fine, toned, extremely rare £5,000-£7,000

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, The Gary Oddie Collection of English Regal Shillings.

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Collection

W.N. Clarkson Collection, Sotheby Auction, 16-20 April 1901, lot 41; R.F. Huth Collection, Part I, Sotheby Auction, 4-7 April 1927, lot 325; T.B. Clarke-Thornhill Collection, Part I, Glendining Auction, 24-8 May 1937, lot 432; Baldwin Auction 93, 5 May 2015, lot 116.

The possible attribution to the French engraver Anthony Levens, who worked at the Tower between 1547 and 1550, derives from a note by C.A. Whitton (SNC 1948, p.215), referenced by Challis, p.56 and subsequently by Bispham (BNJ 1985, p.140). At least seven, and probably more, specimens have been offered on the open market in the last few decades, namely: 1) New York Sale XLVI, 2019, ex Baldwin FPL Winter 2013, ex CNG Triton XV; 2) the present piece; 3) Norweb 1394, subsequently SNC December 1992 (7479); 4) the Bispham plate coin; 5) Fitts, CNG 121, ex Lessen, Snellenburg, Lockett, Barnes, Murdoch and Montagu; 6) Ryan, ‘bent and straightened’; 7) R. Carlyon-Britton, SCMB November 1951. Listings in SNC September 1923 (22981, ex Barnardiston 1903), March 1926 (51421), September 1930 (461) and November 1933 (28397) may refer to some of the above specimens