| Brief Description |
English hammered silver sixpence from the reign of Queen Mary (Tudor) and Prince (later King) Philip of Spain.
Obverse features the busts of Philip and Mary face to face below a crown that divides the date 1554. The legend around the edge reads "PHILIP ET MARIA D G R ANG FR NEAP PR HISP"
The revers features a crowned oval shield bearing the arms of Spain, England and France. The crown divides the mark of value, "VI" (sixpence). The legend around the edge reads "POSVIMVS DEVM ADIVTOREM NOSTRVM" which translates to: We have made God our helper.
The only child to survive to adulthood from Henry VIII's first marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Mary became queen after the death of her half-brother, Edward VI and the failed succession of Lady Jane Grey. She married Prince Philip II of Spain, who became joint sovereign, in 1554. Philip and Mary had no children and on her death at age 42 she was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I.
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