Watch List notes:

SCOTLAND. Thistle Crown, ND (1609-25). Edinburgh Mint; mm; thistle. James VI. NGC EF-45.
S-5471; Fr-52; Burns-2 (fig. 988). Weight: 2.04 gms. Ninth Coinage, After Accession to the English Throne. An piece that offers outstanding execution and preservation. Sharply struck and well centered, with satiny luster glowing from the fields on both sides. Richly toned in yellow-gold and with only minimal friction across the high points. A thin mark in the right reverse field serves as a convenient pedigree marker for this RARE specimen.

The Thistle crown was struck in a small window during the ninth coinage from 1604 through 1609. As with most minor gold of this period, survivors are few and most are well worn. Burns goes on to note that "thistle crowns of the Scottish type are very rare," while those of the English type remain "very common." This piece has long been recognized as one of the most significant survivors, with a provenance back to the Cochran-Patrick Collection sold in 1936. More recently, it was included in the cabinet of Lucien LaRiviere and was selected as the plate coin in the 4th edition of the Spink reference (2020).

From the Loch Ness Collection.

Ex: Lucien LaRiviere Collection (Spink - 4/2006) Lot # 161.

Ex: Beresford-Jones Collection (Spink - 4/1995) Lot # 506.

Ex: H.M. Lingford Collection (Glendining - 6/1951) Lot # 861.

Ex: R.W Cochran-Patrick Collection (Sotheby's - 4/1936) Lot # 82.

The Spink plate coin (4th ed., 2020).

Estimate: $3500 - $5500