Watch List notes:

SCOTLAND. 1/2 Pistole (6 Pounds), 1701. Edinburgh Mint; mm: rising sun. William II. NGC EF-45.
S-5677; Fr-61; Burns-2 (fig. 1079). Weight: 3.41 gms. An exceptional survivor of this GREAT RARITY among William II coinage. Bright lemon-yellow color dominates the surfaces, accented with hints of honey iridescence in areas. Very lustrous with a nearly prooflike complexion on the reverse. Struck on a somewhat crude planchet, as is typical of the type, with natural ragged texture noted at the edges. Sharply defined at the centers despite softness at the borders and only minor traces of friction in the fields. Truly SUPERIOR for the type.

The 1701 gold coinage of William II was composed of gold dust imported by the Scottish Darien Company from a failed colony in the Isthmus of Panama. Burns explains that while a profit of ten percent was decided upon for the company, the dust required extensive refining that reduced this profit by one-third. The resulting coins are incredibly scarce in today's market and just five distinct half pistoles have been offered since 2004. The present piece is a truly exceptional survivor that last traded publicly over 17 years ago in 2004, and it clearly ranks among the finest known. It is considerably sharper than the Adams coin called "Good Fine," the Dundee pieces called "Almost Very Fine," and even compares favorably to the NGC AU-53 Douglas specimen in some respects. This piece represents tremendous combination of rarity and eye appeal that cannot be overstated.

From the Loch Ness Collection.

Ex: David McDonald Collection (Dix Noonan Webb - 10/2004) Lot # 763.

Acquired from Gordon Andreas (Andy) Singer

Estimate: $20000 - $30000