James I gold Spur Ryal, second coinage, mm escallop, King depicted in ship

James I (1603-25), gold Spur-Ryal of Fifteen Shillings, second coinage (1604-19), King standing in warship sailing left, large quartered shield and sword, rose on hull, I on banner at bow, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding both sides, .IACOBVS D; G; MAG; BRIT; FRAN; ET. HIB; REX. rev. rose on sun with sixteen rays at centre, cruciform cross fleury ends with lis terminal surrounding, crown over lion in each angle, all within a tressure of eight arcs, small trefoils in spandrels, initial mark escallop (1606-07), A. DNO; FACTVM. EST. ISTVD ET. EST. MIRABILE. weight 6.83g (Schneider -; N.2080; S.2614). Toned, fully round, one slight rim split only at start of obverse legend, weak strike at mint mark and rose on hull, hairline crack filled in Victorian era on obverse at 2 o'clock to stern of ship, otherwise a pleasing good very fine and very rare, this mint mark not represented in the famous Schneider Collection.

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 "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes," a Psalm from the Bible.

James I was the first King of both Scotland and England, and was the first to style himself as King of Great Britain. The fine gold denominations of the second coinage of James I were ordered by an indenture of 16^th July 1605, specifying the gold Spur-Ryal at fifteen shillings face value.

Provenance:
Ex William Brice, collection purchased en bloc by Hyman Montagu, 1887.

Ex Hyman Montagu, Sotheby, 16^th-20^th November 1897, lot 298 plate coin showing crack filled.

Privately transacted by Spink from private collection, c.1915.

Ex V.J.E. Ryan, part I, Glendining, 28^th-30^th June 1950, lot 365, sold for £74.