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James I gold Laurel mintmark spur rowel
James I (1603-25), gold Laurel of Twenty Shillings, third coinage (1619-25), first laureate and draped bust left, value XX behind, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding on both sides, initial mark spur rowel (1619-20), *IACOBVS D: G: MA: BRI: FRAN: ET HIBER: REX., rev. long cross fourchee over crowned quartered shield of arms, terminal mark spur rowel, no stops in legend, FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM VNAM*, weight 8.99g (Schneider 82; N.2111; S.2637). Once cleaned, with light overtone, small X scratched to left of shield on reverse, otherwise a bold very fine and the first variety issued of the Laurel coinage.
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 as "I will make them one nation," taken from the Bible.
The original pyx trial records show that £109,653 of 22 carat crown gold was struck for this mint mark from 20th August 1619 until 31st March 1620, which is the smallest gold mintage when compared across the mint marks of the third coinage. Interestingly the spur rowel mint mark is also exclusively used for gold coins and did not feature in the silver at all.
Provenance:
Ex Chaponniere and Firrenich SA, Switzerland, Auction 8, 5th July 2017, lot 191.