Baldwin & Sons
Auction 88 8 May 2014
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BRITISH COINS, HAMMERED GOLD SOVEREIGNS, James I (1603-1625), Gold Sovereign of Twenty Shillings, First Coinage (21 May 1603 to 10 November 1604), first crowned half-length armoured figure of King right, holding orb with sceptre on shoulder, beaded circles surrounding, initial mark thistle (21 May 1603 to 22 May 1604) at start of legend both sides, legend reads IACOBVS. D'. G'. ANG'. SCO'. FRAN'. ET. HIB'. REX., outer beaded circle both sides, rev crown over quartered shield of arms, now incorporating Arms of Scotland, I to left, R to right, beaded circle surrounding, legend reads .EXVRGAT. DEVS. DISSIPENTVR. INIMICI., 10.99g (Schneider vol II, 1; North 2066; S 2608). Slight weakness to parts of legend and at sceptre forearm, one tiny short scratch in upper right obverse field, otherwise well-struck with a good face, toned, good very fine and rare.
ex Collection of a Southern Gentleman, Stacks, New York, 7 December 1994, lot 2448
ex Samuel King collection, Spink Auction 173, 5 May 2005, lot 55
King James I was also King James VI of Scotland, since his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, had died in 1567, and was the first monarch to proclaim titles for both England and Scotland on the British coinage. The Hemisphere Collection example is the first issue and mintmark, with the first type of bust dating it to 1603 and was issued in 22 carat fineness (0.917 fine) as our gold Sovereigns continue to be today. This coinage marks the last time a Sovereign is called as such in the hammered gold series, and the name is not used again until the advent of the modern Sovereign for currency in the reign of George III in 1817. The 10-Shilling denomination then continues under other guises as the "Unite" "Laurel" and "Guinea."
Estimate: £18,000-22,000
ex Collection of a Southern Gentleman, Stacks, New York, 7 December 1994, lot 2448
ex Samuel King collection, Spink Auction 173, 5 May 2005, lot 55
King James I was also King James VI of Scotland, since his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, had died in 1567, and was the first monarch to proclaim titles for both England and Scotland on the British coinage. The Hemisphere Collection example is the first issue and mintmark, with the first type of bust dating it to 1603 and was issued in 22 carat fineness (0.917 fine) as our gold Sovereigns continue to be today. This coinage marks the last time a Sovereign is called as such in the hammered gold series, and the name is not used again until the advent of the modern Sovereign for currency in the reign of George III in 1817. The 10-Shilling denomination then continues under other guises as the "Unite" "Laurel" and "Guinea."
Estimate: £18,000-22,000