![Elizabeth I, East India Company, Portcullis 4 Testerns [ECH-99] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ECH-99-1.jpg)
Description
Elizabeth I of the House of Tudor, Queen of England 1558-1603 AD, Silver Four Testerns (13.61g, 33mm), ‘Portcullis’ series, initial mark “O” (1600-1601 AD), Royal mint, London, struck for use by the British Honourable East India Company. Obverse: Royal Escutcheon of the Armorial of the House of Tudor surmounted by Saint Edward’s Crown, Royal Cypher “ER” to field each side, each letter crowned, inner toothed border and legend surrounds, “:ELIZABETH· D:G: ANG: FRA: ET· HIBER: REGINA·”. Reverse: Portcullis with chains flowing each side surmounted by the Saint Edward’s Crown, inner toothed border and legend surrounds, “POSVI· DEVM· ADIVTOREM· MEVM·”. S-2607b; KM-T3. Sitting amongst the peak of English numismatic rarities, the Portcullis series holds a special place as England’s first trade coinage, and with the series having such low surviving populations each denomination has become highly sought after for all types of collectors; some flatness over central obverse devices, evenly worn otherwise, a very affordable type example four Testern, near Very Fine, reverse Very Fine, very rare.
Provenance:
• Spink Numismatic Circular July-August 1971
• Superior Auctions (Los Angeles), Coin Sale, 15-19 June 1976, lot 1454
• ‘Bellamy’ Collection of English Half crowns, DNW, 2012
The obverse Latin legend is the royal titulature of Queen Elizabeth I, reading unabridged as “Elizabeth, Deī grātiā, Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniae Rēgīna” and with an English translation of “Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland”. The reverse Latin legend is stated unabridged as “Posuī Deum Adiūtōrem Meum” and has an English translation of “I ordain God as my helper”.
