James I 1623 Sixpence, 3rd coinage, 6th bust, mm. lis, O formed of two Cs

James I (1603-25),silver Sixpence, 1623, third coinage (1619-25), sixth crowned bust right, beaded circles and legend surrounding, IACOBVS D: G: MAG: BRI: FRA: ET HIB: REX., the O of legend struck as a composite of two opposing letter Cs, initial mark lis (1623-24) both sides,probably stuck over thistle on reverse, rev.quartered shield of arms, date above, beaded circles and legend without stops surrounding, QVÆ DEVS CONIVNXIT NEMO SEPARET, weight 2.56g (N.2126; S.2670).Toned, weak in parts with some porosity and hairline scratches, one small flan imperfection, otherwise almost fine, with clear date and mint mark, interesting legend variety.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "James by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland"; and on the reverse "What God hath joined, let no man put asunder" a Psalm from the Bible.

The lis mint mark was used for two dates of 1623 and 1624 and we note the output of silver was £47,323 which is the seventh highest of the reign.

It seems to save time on the obverse die or due to a lack of an O punch being available, that the die sinker has used his ingenuity in striking the King's names IACOBVS, and having just used the C as the third character, he has then used it to strike a C and a retrograde C over the top and opposing each other as the fourth character to give an O albeit with the serif sticking out of the bottom left and top right. The variety not noted previously.