Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3030 5-6 January 2014
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Scotland
James III (1460-88) gold Unicorn ND, S-5262, Issue of 1484-88, Cross Fleury mm, pellet at center of reverse star, extremely rare, uncertified, Choice VF, full flan containing all legends, evenly struck on a sound flan of fine quality, lovely smooth surfaces, the horse's hind quarter bearing an identifying short adjustment. A delightful coin having beautiful gold color! The Unicorn (initially of 22.5ct-fine gold) was introduced as a denomination during the final few years of this reign, which politically saw the acquisition of the Orkney and Shetland islands when James married Margaret of Denmark in his 18th year. His nobles and he never practiced mutual loyalty, and James was murdered at the age of 37. This coinage was minted only at Edinburgh, the obverse depicting a mythical unicorn beast supporting a shield with a lion rampant upon it. A double annulet appears under the unicorn's hooves. The reverse is dominated by a large, wavy star upon a cross fleury. The legend in Latin, "EXURGAT DEUS ET DISSIPENTUR INIMICI EIUS" in abbreviated form, surrounds, translating to mean "Let God Arise and Let His Enemies Be Scattered." Nowhere on the coin is the king's name given. The denomination continued to be issued, sporadically, through the next two reigns, and those of James IV and James V are all rare. This first issue of James III is seldom seen and a great rarity.
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD
James III (1460-88) gold Unicorn ND, S-5262, Issue of 1484-88, Cross Fleury mm, pellet at center of reverse star, extremely rare, uncertified, Choice VF, full flan containing all legends, evenly struck on a sound flan of fine quality, lovely smooth surfaces, the horse's hind quarter bearing an identifying short adjustment. A delightful coin having beautiful gold color! The Unicorn (initially of 22.5ct-fine gold) was introduced as a denomination during the final few years of this reign, which politically saw the acquisition of the Orkney and Shetland islands when James married Margaret of Denmark in his 18th year. His nobles and he never practiced mutual loyalty, and James was murdered at the age of 37. This coinage was minted only at Edinburgh, the obverse depicting a mythical unicorn beast supporting a shield with a lion rampant upon it. A double annulet appears under the unicorn's hooves. The reverse is dominated by a large, wavy star upon a cross fleury. The legend in Latin, "EXURGAT DEUS ET DISSIPENTUR INIMICI EIUS" in abbreviated form, surrounds, translating to mean "Let God Arise and Let His Enemies Be Scattered." Nowhere on the coin is the king's name given. The denomination continued to be issued, sporadically, through the next two reigns, and those of James IV and James V are all rare. This first issue of James III is seldom seen and a great rarity.
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD