Scotland, James I gold Demy of 9 Shillings, reverse with chain link circles

James I of Scotland (1406-37), gold Demy of Nine Shillings, type II, chain-like circles on reverse only, upright lion within double lozenge with fleur de lis at apexes, beaded circles and abbreviated Latin legends surrounding with fleur de lis and saltire stops, initial mark crown xIxACOBVS+ DE+I GRACIxA+ REX SCx+x, rev. saltire cross, fleur de lis either side, fleured tressure of six arcs surrounding, large open quatrefoils around, chain type circles and legends surrounding, initial mark cross with fleur de lis and saltire stops, +SALVVmxxx FAC POPVLVm+x TVVm DnE+x+, weight 3.31g (Burns 6b, fig 437c; S.5191). Attractively toned with some red colour, a little uneven in shape, some light surface marks, good very fine and an extremely rare variety.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "James, by the Grace of God, King of Scotland" and on the reverse "O Lord, save Thy people" a Psalm from the Bible. A great deal of the 22 carat gold in this coinage of Scotland at this period was mined locally principally from Crawford Moor, when nuggets from 2 grams to 30 ounces were discovered.

The chain type reverse circles are recorded by Burns as a b number and a c number for the illustration which is of the British Museum example cited (BM Collection number E.2481 available to view online). The only other example known to the Victorian writer Burns was that which belonged to Rev. John H. Pollefexen whose collection was sold at Sotheby on 26^th June 1900 as lot 258. It is intriguing to think that this coin could possibly be that one but impossible to prove without an illustration.

Provenance:

Ex A. H. Baldwin, Fixed Price List, Winter 2013/14, item SC002.