Hello and welcome back to the PAS blog. All around the United Kingdom, this weekend marked the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. You may have noticed an increase in Queen-themed paraphernalia – commemorative mugs, postcards featuring the monarch with her family/horses/corgis, Union Jack bunting. The Queen is one of the most photographed people in the world and instantly recognisable.
But how did people relate to the monarch before mass communication networks like the internet? The portrayal of leaders on money brought the monarchy into homes, businesses, and pockets all around Britain. Everyone in the kingdom, no matter how remote, would be able to recognise the King or Queen. The story of Britain’s reigning Queens can be told through coins – well-thumbed and traded, dropped, lost, and stolen. These women are our Queen’s predecessors, and all trailblazers in their own right.
The first reigning Queen of England was Lady Jane Grey (r. 10-19 July 1553), also known as the Nine Days’ Queen. The contested nature of Jane’s status as Queen is reflected by the dearth of coins produced in her image. Prior to Queen Jane, the concept of female rulership was inconceivable to many. However, King Edward VI (r. 1547-1553) died at the age of 15 with no male heirs. You can see his boyish face looking out from the hammered surface of this shilling (LVPL-290E03), found in East Sussex.
The young King considered his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate. To avoid their accession, he made a deathbed amendment to the succession plan, crowning his cousin Jane. However, after only nine days in the top job, Mary was proclaimed the rightful Queen and Jane executed as a usurper. If you’re interested in learning more, check out England’s Forgotten Queen on BBC iPlayer.
This silver groat found in Cumbria shows the head of Queen Mary I (r. 1553-1558), who would rule for just five tumultuous years (LANCUM-DD4B2C). A fervent Catholic, Mary rebelled against the appointment of Lady Jane, and boldly rode into London to assert her place as Queen. As monarch, she attempted to reverse Henry VIII’s Reformation, by reinstating Catholicism as the state religion. However, public opinion was volatile, and Mary’s religious fervour and Spanish connections made her unpopular. She died without any heirs, leaving the throne open to her Protestant sister Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603).
What better way to celebrate the first Elizabethan age than with a shining gold half-crown, found in Suffolk (PUBLIC-243235). The high forehead and long wavy hair of Queen Elizabeth I is clearly visible on this coin from 1566-1567. Elizabeth reigned for an impressive 45 years. The last Tudor monarch, she died ‘the Virgin Queen.’ The Elizabethan era is remembered for its artistic legacy, and establishment of global trade networks by means of the East India Company.
We come to a tale of two lesser-known sisters. 86 years after the death of Elizabeth I, England gained its fourth Queen. Mary II (r. 1689-1694) was married to the Dutch prince William of Orange (r. 1689-1702). Her father, King James II (r. 1685-1688), was incredibly unpopular. It is said that Parliament invited William to take the throne from James. In 1688, William and Mary became joint monarchs. The man with the impressive nose on this silver penny is William, from behind which Mary peeks out (BUC-529D65).
King James’ second daughter Anne (r. 1702-1714) succeeded the throne. Famously portrayed by Olivia Colman in The Favourite, Queen Anne’s relationship with Sarah Churchill Duchess of Marlborough has coloured her historical reputation. In her memoirs, the Duchess portrayed Anne as sickly, needy, and unsuited for the throne. However, Queen Anne has been reassessed in the 21st century, and her achievements acknowledged. For example, she was the first monarch of Great Britain, following the union of Scotland and England. This pierced penny from 1706, featuring Queen Anne’s portrait, may have been worn as an accessory (LEIC-18A32D).
We come to the end of our Queenly tour with the inimitable Queen Victoria (r. 1837-1901). Crowned at just 18, you can see Victoria’s youthful profile on this half-sovereign (SF-C7245B). During her early reign, Britain saw rapid industrial and cultural change. Following the death of her adored husband Albert, Victoria withdrew from the public eye.
As imperial sentiment grew, she emerged from her recluse, restyled as Empress of India. The older Victoria is pictured on this half-sovereign set into a ring as a distinguished leader (NLM-072ED7).
We hope you enjoyed the Jubilee celebrations of Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II! You can find more coins from every era of British history on the PAS database. Please remember to report your finds to your local FLO, it’s a fantastic way to contribute to the rich tapestry of British history.
List of References
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1021766
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1006828
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/986668
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/277526
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/710499
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/974269
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/980648
https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1046723
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/myth-bloody-mary-180974221/
https://www.royal.uk/elizabeth-ihttps://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/history-and-stories/queen-victoria/#gs.0nph3b
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Queen-Anne/
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/mary-ii
