James I gold Halfcrown XF45, fifth bust mm. book on lectern, Ext Rare mm

James I (1603-25), gold Halfcrown, second coinage, fifth crowned bust right, beaded circle and legend surrounding, initial mark book on lectern (1616-17) both sides, .I'. D'. G'. ROSA'. SINE'. SPINA., rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, beaded circle and legend surrounding, +. TVEATVR. VNITA.DEVS., weight 1.21g (Schneider 76; N.2095; S.2631). Toned with some red colour and blemishes, some light wear and surface marks, one light perforation crack in flan, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as XF45 and extremely rare.

NGC certification 2130711-043 - the finest currently certified.

The Latin legends translate as "James by the grace of God, a rose without a thorn" on the obverse, and on the reverse as "May God guard these united" in reference to the Kingdoms of England and Scotland.

The crown gold of 22 carat output for this mint mark is combined with that of the crescent for the following year giving 1616-18 as the period recorded at £262,540 worth though much of this must have been crescent judging by the scant few surviving coins of mint mark book. For instance the Rose Ryal with book is unique which was in the Lingford collection, the most complete offering of the coinage of this King ever to come to auction back in 1951. That collection contained three examples of the mint mark book gold halfcrown and this coin may well be one of them, as alas none were illustrated in 1951 or weighed (lots 1029 and 1030). Schneider's example was from the famed Lockett Collection. Therefore there are probably no more than six to eight examples of the book mint mark halfcrown extant today in private hands. This coin is the only graded example.

Provenance:

Ex V. J. E. Ryan, first part, Glendining, 28^th June 1950, lot 408 part.

Ex Patrick Finn, List 8, Autumn 1996, item 24 at £400.