Milled Sixpences of Elizabeth I

Obverse of 1562 Sixpence gVF (Slightly Tooled)

Reverse of 1562 Sixpence gVF (Slightly Tooled)

Obverse of 1562 Sixpence VF/aVF

Reverse of 1562 Sixpence VF/aVF

Obverse of 1562 Sixpence VF

Reverse of 1562 Sixpence (With Die Crack)

Most coins of Elizabeth's reign were hand-struck (hammered), but in the early years of her reign, a quantity of milled coins were issued, including the 1562 sixpence shown here. The man responsible for this was a frenchman named Eloye Mestrelle, who introduced a horse powered mill for the striking of coins to the Royal Mint in 1561. Unfortunately, whilst the quality of mill-struck coins was clearly far superior to those struck by hand, and was far more difficult for dishonest people to replicate or clip, they were also far more expensive to produce, and the process was much slower, making it difficult for the Royal Mint to produce enough to keep up with demand for coins. Mestrelle's services were dispensed with in 1572, and without an official employer engaging him to practice his trade, he was to end up dying on the gallows a few years later for coin forgery! It was not until the reign Charles II over a century later that milling was considered efficient enough to completely supplant the hand-striking method in England.

Obverse:
Portrait of Queen facing left. 'Elizabeth by The Grace of God Queen'

Reverse:
Date above Royal Coat of Arms. 'I have made God my helper'

Year	Description	Availability	Price £	Price $
1562 (cross pattee)	Good VF (slightly tooled)	Sold	£550*	$Ask
1562 (cross pattee)	gVF/VF	Yes	£495*	$790
1562 (cross pattee)	VF/aVF	Yes	£450*	$Ask
1562 (die crack on reverse)	VF	Yes	£475*	$Ask

*Price correct as of 2011

Order Form - UK
Order Form - USA

If you want to find the value of a coin you own, please take a look at our page I've Found An Old Coin, What's It Worth?