The son of Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour, Edward ascended to the throne at the age of nine. He died only six years later from tuberculosis, and was eventually succeeded by his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth. Though heavily under the influence of his advisors, Edward nonetheless showed promise as a monarch. His image on this golden sovereign seems full of youthful optimism and hope. The Tudor age was a golden one for England, a time of prosperity, exploration and cultural achievement. This radiant coin seems a fitting token of that age, an intimate link with a glorious time and place.