Watch List notes:

SCOTLAND. Double Crown (Half Unite), ND (1609-25). Edinburgh mint; mm: thistle. James VI. NGC AU-58.
S-5466; Fr-49; Burns-pg. 434. Weight: 4.98 gms. Tenth Coinage, After Accession to the English Throne. Supremely attractive with tangerine patina near the borders and pale yellow hues across the high points. Perfectly centered with intact legends and considerable beading at the edges. The surfaces exhibit tremendous luster and only the faintest trace of friction, rendering this piece very close to Mint State in many respects. The obverse shows a dramatic series of multiple strikes, creating an echo of James VI's beard into the right field. A truly exceptional example of this VERY RARE issue.

The double crown, or half unite, was confined to the second chapter of James VI's rule, once he had accessioned to the English throne in 1603. This type from the tenth coinage was struck beginning in 1609 and lasted until his death in 1625. It remains an incredibly elusive issue with only three distinct examples sold in the past 15 years. Missing from the comprehensive Coats Collection, this type was called a "rare coin" by Burns but it was not assigned a variety number. The present example is arguably the most desirable of survivors, with superior preservation and a pedigree to the LaRiviere cabinet.

From the Loch Ness Collection.

Ex: Lucien LaRiviere Collection (Spink - 4/2006) Lot # 159.

Ex: Bt. Baldwin (10/1984).

Ex: Spink (4/1982) Lot # 186.

Estimate: $9000 - $14000