Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3020 6-7,10-11 Sep. 2012
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Scotland
Robert III (1390-1406) gold Lion ND, Spink-5154, Heavy Coinage, VF25 NGC, lots of even wear, no damage at all, and struck on a fairly smooth-edged and almost perfectly round flan, thus quite pleasing despite the lack of sharp detail. Very scarce. One of the earliest gold issues of medieval Scotland, and the first collectible one, this piece was made of what was called de bono auro, or almost pure gold, and was intended to circulate valued at 5 shillings; and it did for a few years until its gold content was slightly decreased about 1403. No mint name or mark is given on these coins but it is believed that the "heavy lions" were struck at Edinburgh and Perth in fair numbers for about 14 years. The Middle Ages was a time of silver coins dominating commerce throughout Europe and the British isles until the English king Edward III began striking gold mainly for the purpose of facilitating trade with Flanders. Robert II in Scotland issued only silver. His eldest son, who had been born John, Earl of Carrick, and changed his name to Robert only upon his succession in 1390, began issuing his gold Lions almost immediately, having been impressed by certain French gold coins which he admired, the Ecus a la Couronne of the French king Charles VI. We see here, on the obverse, Robert's name and titles surrounding a crowned shield within which appears a lion rampant, and on the reverse is shown Saint Andrew crucified upon a saltire cross with a large Lis on each side (homage to the French model?), along with an inscription in abbreviated Latin which means "Christ Rules, Christ Conquers, Christ Commands." The imagery is a perfect summation of the medieval mind.
Estimate: 4500-5000 USD
Robert III (1390-1406) gold Lion ND, Spink-5154, Heavy Coinage, VF25 NGC, lots of even wear, no damage at all, and struck on a fairly smooth-edged and almost perfectly round flan, thus quite pleasing despite the lack of sharp detail. Very scarce. One of the earliest gold issues of medieval Scotland, and the first collectible one, this piece was made of what was called de bono auro, or almost pure gold, and was intended to circulate valued at 5 shillings; and it did for a few years until its gold content was slightly decreased about 1403. No mint name or mark is given on these coins but it is believed that the "heavy lions" were struck at Edinburgh and Perth in fair numbers for about 14 years. The Middle Ages was a time of silver coins dominating commerce throughout Europe and the British isles until the English king Edward III began striking gold mainly for the purpose of facilitating trade with Flanders. Robert II in Scotland issued only silver. His eldest son, who had been born John, Earl of Carrick, and changed his name to Robert only upon his succession in 1390, began issuing his gold Lions almost immediately, having been impressed by certain French gold coins which he admired, the Ecus a la Couronne of the French king Charles VI. We see here, on the obverse, Robert's name and titles surrounding a crowned shield within which appears a lion rampant, and on the reverse is shown Saint Andrew crucified upon a saltire cross with a large Lis on each side (homage to the French model?), along with an inscription in abbreviated Latin which means "Christ Rules, Christ Conquers, Christ Commands." The imagery is a perfect summation of the medieval mind.
Estimate: 4500-5000 USD