Thomas Stanley (d. 1571)

Thomas Stanley (d. 1571), Assay Master at the Tower Mint, silver medal, c.1562, by Steven van Herwijck [Stephen of Holland (c.1530-1565/7)] and signed on truncation, 'STE. H.', bust right wearing a flat bonnet, gown with raised collar and small ruff, rev., his armorial shield, garnished and with helm, with hart as crest, beaded border to both sides, 44.5mm (MI 105/32; Simonis pl. XXVI, 5). A contemporary cast of superb quality, extremely fine.

Thomas Stanley, a goldsmith, was appointed Assay Master at the Tower Mint by Henry VIII in 1545 and oversaw the debasement of the silver coinage and addressed the problem of the accurate preparation of silver to the precise Sterling standard. He became Comptroller of the Mint in 1553 and in 1560 Under-Treasurer (on his death in 1571 the position became Master of the Mint).

Provenance: John R. Gaines, part II, Morton & Eden, 8 December, 2005 (lot 46); 'Late Collector' sale, Sotheby's, 12 June 1974, lot 4; Morton & Eden, 21 May 2003 (lot 1104).