Watch List notes:

SCOTLAND. Unit, ND (1625-1636). Edinburgh Mint; mm: thistle. Charles I. NGC AU-55.
S-5527; Fr-53; Burns-1 (fig. 1030). First Coinage. A visually spectacular example with warm honey-gold tone and brighter yellow highlights. Very lustrous and entirely without significant abrasions. The reverse show a chorus of multiple strikes with broadly doubled legends at the right border. Stuck on a somewhat irregular flan with ragged areas at the right obverse and a minor edge chip at 3 o'clock. Very attractive and RARE at this level of preservation, appearing very close to Mint State upon first glance.

Charles I was, despite being primarily remembered as an English king, born a Scot. He was the second eldest son of James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark, born at Fife in 1600. Upon the death of his brother Henry in 1612, he became the heir to the throne. While he inherited the throne in 1625 upon the death of his father, Charles I did not receive his Scottish coronation until 1633. This type, struck during the first coinage from 1625 through 1635, was issued until Frenchman Nicholas Briot was appointed as master of the Scottish mint in the end of 1834. Gold Units of this period are very scarce and are seldom seen in such high grades as the present piece. With pedigree to the Murray and LaRiviere collections, this is certainly among the most desirable survivors.

From the Loch Ness Collection.

Ex: Lucien LaRiviere Collection (Spink - 4/2006) Lot # 209.

Ex: J.K.R. Murray Collection (Spink - 4/1987) lot # 31.

Estimate: $6000 - $10000