James I Unite, 2nd coinage, mm crescent, very rare mm

James I (1603-25), gold Unite of Twenty Shillings, second Coinage (1604-19), fifth crowned half-length armoured figure right, holding orb and sceptre, surrounded by beaded circles and legend, initial mark crescent both sides (1617-18), +.IACOBVS; D;G; MA; BRI; FRA; ET; HI; REX., rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, I to left, R to right, +.FACIAM. EOS. IN. GENTEM. VNAM., weight 9.96g (Schneider -; N.2085; S.2620). Brightly cleaned, with some die clash on King's initial I on reverse with strikes through to obverse field, a little doubling to bust profile, some weakness to high points, otherwise about very fine and very rare, the first we have stocked of this mint mark.

The abbreviated legends translate as on the obverse "James by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland" and on the reverse as "Henry united the Roses, James the Kingdoms," a legend that is exclusive to this reign.

The crescent mint mark is likely short lived as it shares the accounting period with the even rarer book mint mark. The record of accounting that survives covers the 1^st April 1616 until the 31^st March 1617. The output of crown gold for this period is £262,540.

We note the H M Lingford Collection part 2 sold in June 1951 of the most comprehensive collection of James I and VI sold to date only contained two examples of the mint mark crescent Unite whereas it contained three of the mint mark of book which is considered the rarest mark of the reign.