1 Fine Sovereign - Edward VI 3rd period

Edward VI's Third Coinage of 1551 marked England's first fully declared departure from the debased issues that had plagued his father's later reign. The fine sovereign was struck at 23 carat gold — a deliberate restoration of pre-debasement standards under the direction of William Cecil and the Duke of Northumberland, part of a broader fiscal rehabilitation that also introduced the shilling on the same standard.

Edward died in July 1553, curtailing production sharply. Survivors in any condition are genuinely scarce; this was never a high-volume issue.