Rare silver counter of the Lord High Treasurer
Rare silver counter of the Lord High Treasurer
3257
Beautifully designed and rare silver counter of the Elizabeth I/James I era of Thomas Sackville who at the time was Lord Buckhurst and Lord High Treasurer. 1603. Obverse: The arms of Sackville, within the Garter. Legend: T . SACKVIL . B . D . BUCH . ANG . THES . EQ . AVRA. (Thomas Sackville, Baron of Buckhurst, Treasurer of England, Knight.). Reverse: The Sackville crest. a spotted leopard rampant, left, between 1602. Legend: Motto, SEMPER . FIDELIS. (Always faithful). Two roses after SEMPER and one after FIDELIS. See Medallic Illustrations vol.I, p.189/4 where the counter was rated as rare in 1885.
Sir Thomas Sackville was created Lord Buckhurst by Elizabeth I in 1567 and she appointed him Lord High Treasurer in 1599, an office which he held until his death in 1608. Since James I created Buckhurst Earl of Dorset on 13 March, 1603-4, this counter must have been struck before that date. The reason why this counter was issued has not been ascertained but Medallic Illustrations believe that it was possibly struck as a memorial of the death of Elizabeth I or of the accession of James I and was also used as a counter for reckoning in Buckhursts department of state. Given its age (over 400 years old), this particular counter is in remarkably good condition.
Circa 1605
Dimensions:
c 1603
Silver
England
Extremely Fine on obverse, almost Extremely Fine on reverse, some flattening on high points on the leopard
RELATED ITEMS
. Reverse: The Sackville crest. a spotted leopard rampant, left, between 1602. Legend: Motto, SEMPER . FIDELIS. (Always faithful). Two roses after SEMPER and one after FIDELIS. See Medallic Illustrations vol.I, p.189/4 where the counter was rated as rare in 1885.Sir Thomas Sackville was created Lord Buckhurst by Elizabeth I in 1567 and she appointed him Lord High Treasurer in 1599, an office which he held until his death in 1608. Since James I created Buckhurst Earl of Dorset on 13 March, 1603-4, this counter must have been struck before that date. The reason why this counter was issued has not been ascertained but Medallic Illustrations believe that it was possibly struck as a memorial of the death of Elizabeth I or of the accession of James I and was also used as a counter for reckoning in Buckhursts department of state. Given its age (over 400 years old), this particular counter is in remarkably good condition.Circa 1605){kind=link}