Extraordinary Gold Piece from Queen Bloody Marry up for auction in Germany
Valuable coin will be auctioned Friday by auction house Künker – starting price 480.000 euros
An incredible rare gold medal celebrating the marriage of queen Mary Tudor – the famous “Bloody Mary” is being auctioned off at Künker Auctions in Osnabrück, Germany. The 151.80 gram gold piece with a diameter of 67.70 millimeters was designed and fabricated around the year 1554 as a present for her marriage with Philip II of Spain, the later King of Spain. Most likely only two pieces were ever made. They were at the time commissioned by Mary’s father as a present to the families of the of the bride and groom. Mary’s father specifically sent the Italian artist Jacopo da Trezzo all the way from Italy to London in the 1550s to do design this piece of art.
The only other known specimen is kept in the British Museum which makes this piece on offer the only available piece in private hands. Even with todays high gold prices the auction estimate of such an important relict of British royal history has little to do with the price of the gold it was made from. The German auction house Künker, who specialize in rare coins and medals, has set the opening bid for the piece at 480.000 Euros. The valuable coin will be auctioned on Friday, March 24, 2023 as part of the Künker Spring Auctions.
This large medal is considered to be on of the most accomplished works of medal art in the time period and depicts an immense important moment in British and European history. Because only two pieces were ever made of this large gold piece, it is thought that this exact specimen was either once given to and later owned by Mary herself, Philip or to his father - the then King Charles V.
On the gold medal one can see Mary in a dress and headdress with a large jewel hanging down her chest, which was probably given to Mary by her husband as a wedding gift. The reverse depicts the personification of Pax in the center, holding a branch and setting fire to a pile of weapons, as already depicted on ancient coins. The face, however, resembles the British queen. The cube in front of her right foot with the representations of handshake and scales symbolizes stability, concord and justice.
More info and opportunities to bid at https://www.kuenker.de/en/auktionen/stueck/357645
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