![Elizabeth I, Half Pound, Second issue 1560-61 [ECH-112] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ECH-112-1.jpg)
Description
Kingdom of England, Elizabeth I of the House of Tudor, Queen of England 1558-1603 AD, Gold Half Pound (5.07g, 29mm), Second issue, Initial mark ‘Cross Crosslet’ (1560-1561 AD), Royal Mint, London. Obverse: Crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth I facing to the left, wearing elaborately embroidered doublet with reticella lace ruff, hair flowing free, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “ELIZABETH: D:G: ANG: FRA: ET· HI: REGINA”. Reverse: The Royal Arms of the Kingdom of England, as borne by Queen Elizabeth I and the reigning House of Tudor, St. Edward’s Crown above, royal cypher “E R” to field either side, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “SCVTVM: FIDEI: PROTEGET: EAM·”. S-2520. A most charming half pound of the last Tudor sovereign, a piece offering generally decent portraiture which is often flat, and the remaining detail is well struck, light die flaw over “E” to reverse field, overall good Very Fine, scarce.
The obverse Latin legend is the royal titulature of Queen Elizabeth I and reads unabridged as “Elizabeth, Deī grātiā, Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniae Rēgīna”, with an English translation of “Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland”. The reverse Latin legend is a reference to Ephesians 6:16 and is stated unabridged as “Scūtum fidē̆ī prōteget eam”, with an English translation of “the shield of faith shall protect her”.
