1/2 Crown - Edward VI 2nd period, uncrowned bust

Edward VI's Second Coinage of 1549–1550 marked a deliberate debasement policy continued from his father's reign, though gold denominations were somewhat insulated from the worst of it. The half crown at this weight reflects the reduced fineness schedule — 22 carat rather than the traditional 23⅞ — that the Protectorate government under Somerset used partly to fund ongoing military campaigns in Scotland.

Spink 2443 is among the scarcer half crown types of the reign. The uncrowned bust distinguished these pieces from later Second Coinage issues and the type had a short production window before further monetary revisions under Northumberland's council.