ELIZABETH I PATTERN SILVER SHILLING EX. BLISS, CROWTHER, BIEBER, BRICE

Elizabeth I Pattern Silver shilling
mintmark large key, (1596-99), large 32mm flan
Obverse: Elaborate crowned bust facing left with tall narrow crown and long flowing hair, with Latin legend surrounding: ELIZAB D G ANG ET HIB REGIN, *omits the French title, (all within inner beaded border). 
Reverse: Long cross fourchée over garnished flat topped quartered shield of arms, with Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding: POSVI DEV ADIVTOREM MEV 
5.98gms. 
N.2045; KY-3C/ KY-c2; Brown & Comber P4.
Minor metal flaw to the obverse, however showing a superb fully struck-up portrait with amazing detail, with a most attractive dark cabinet tone, a bold good very fine – near extremely fine and of the highest rarity, with apparently only one other known example, complete with an astonishingly long pedigree:

Ex.  Spink purchased in August 1983.
Ex. H. H. Snellenberg Jr, collection purchased by Spink in 1965.
Ex. Thomas Bliss Esq, Sotheby, 15th May 1916, (lot 320). *Illustrated on Plate VII.
Ex. Rev. G. F. Crowther Esq, Sotheby, 10th November 1904, (lot 97). *Illustrated on Plate.
Ex. G. W. E. Bieber Esq, Sotheby, 13th May 1889, (lot 110).
Ex. W. Brice Esq, Sotheby, 15th June 1881, (lot 48). 
Ex.  J. B. Bergne Esq, Sotheby 20th May 1873, (lot 613).