Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2021 ANA Auction 16-21 Aug 2021
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SCOTLAND. Lion (Scottish Crown), ND (1451). mm: crown/cross. James II. NGC AU-55.
cf. S-5220/5221 (mule; for obv./rev.); Fr-11; Burns-1a (fig. 519A). Weight: 3.44 gms. Second Coinage, Second /First Issue Mule. An attractive example with pale yellow color and areas of warm pinkish luster. Scattered traces of darker patina are noted in the protected areas. Struck on a tight flan with the upper obverse and lower reverse legends pushed off the edge, but very sharp otherwise. Double struck on the reverse with a thin hairline scratch seen to the right of St. Andrew under a glass. A VERY RARE variety of an already elusive type.
cf. S-5220/5221 (mule; for obv./rev.); Fr-11; Burns-1a (fig. 519A). Weight: 3.44 gms. Second Coinage, Second /First Issue Mule. An attractive example with pale yellow color and areas of warm pinkish luster. Scattered traces of darker patina are noted in the protected areas. Struck on a tight flan with the upper obverse and lower reverse legends pushed off the edge, but very sharp otherwise. Double struck on the reverse with a thin hairline scratch seen to the right of St. Andrew under a glass. A VERY RARE variety of an already elusive type.
Similar to the coinage of his predecessor, these lions can be associated with issues of crown groats, linked by their style and ornamentation. While the obverse of the present variety is linked to the second variety of groats, the reverse is linked to the first variety. As such, this represents a transitional mule that Burns calls "very rare." Irrespective of variety, the James II lions are incredibly elusive, with only about eight to ten examples sold over the past two decades.
From the Loch Ness Collection.
Ex: Marshall Collection (Spink - 4/2004) Lot #292.
Ex: Spink Numismatic Circular (4/1943) Item # 19212.
Ex: R.W. Cochran-Patrick (Sotheby's - 4/1936) Lot # 28.
Estimate: $7000 - $10000