Mary I. and Philip and Mary. (1553 to 1558.) — Married Philip of Spain, 1554
Denominations.—Silver. Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Groat, Half-groat, Penny. Gold. Sovereign or Double-rial, Rial, Angel, Angelet.
Obverse.—Type. Before her marriage, Mary’s coins have a sinister bust profile, crowned, arched crown, hair long and flowing, draped. One Penny, a rose instead of head. After her marriage with Philip of Spain, the Shilling and Half-shilling have their busts face to face, with a crown above between them: here she appears with her dress up to her chin, and a head dress; he has the stiff ruffle about his neck. This arrangement of the profile heads facing each other gave rise to the couplet,
“... cooing and billing
Like Philip and Mary on a shilling.”
The Half-crown, which appears to be merely a pattern-piece, but never issued, has on one side her bust, over which is the crown between the date 1554, with the legend MARIA D. G. R. ANG. FR. NEAP. PR. HISP.; and on the other a similar bust of Philip, beneath a crown, and the legend PHILIPVS D. G. R. ANG. FR. NEAP. PR. HISP. Some of the coins have no date, others the date above, others below the heads.
Legend. M. or MARIA.—D. G. ANG.—FR. FRA. Z. HIB. REG. or REGI. Shilling and Sixpence, PHILIP. ET. or Z.; or MARIA. D. G. R. ANG. FR. NEAP. PR. HISP.; or PHILIP ET MARIA D. G. REX ET REGINA ANG. or ANGL. Some have the date as 1553 either beneath the heads or by the crown. Penny, M. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA; or P. Z. [ET] M. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA.
Reverse.—Type. Before the marriage, cross fleury and shield, as on her predecessor’s coins. After the marriage, Shilling and Sixpence bear the Spanish and Neapolitan royal arms, impaling those of England, in an oval shield, mantled; surmounted by a crown, between numerals for value.
Legend. Groat and Half-groat of Mary, VERITAS TEMPORIS FILIA, and also abbreviated; of Philip and Mary, POSVIMVS DEVM ADIVTO NOS. Shilling and Sixpence, POSVIMVS DEVM ADIVTOREM NOSTRVM, and abbreviated. Penny, CIVITAS LONDON; or VERITAS TEMP FILIA.
Rarity. Rose-penny rare; Half-crown, Half-groat, and Penny, extremely so.
Gold. Sovereign or Double-rial, the queen full-robed and crowned seated on the throne, in her right hand a sceptre, in the left the orb and cross; at her feet a portcullis; reverse, within a tressure of ten arches a double rose, with shield of royal arms in centre. Legend, A. DNO. FACTV. EST ISTV. Z. EST MIRA IN. OCVL. NRIS. (“It is the work of the Lord, and is wonderful in our eyes.”) Rial, the queen crowned standing in a ship, in her right hand a drawn sword, in her left a shield of arms; in front, a rose. Same legend. Angel and Angelet, with St. Michael and the Dragon as on those of preceding monarchs.