Scotland, James VI (1588) gold Thistle Noble MS61, one year issue of 1588, ex La Riviere and Loch Ness collections

Scotland, James VI (1567-1625), gold Thistle Noble of Eleven Merks or £7/6/8d, fifth coinage (1588-90), crowned Scottish arms at centre of ship sailing left, thistle on hull, bow flag with I for James and stern flag with 6, flag on top mast has incuse saltire cross, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding both sides, IACOBVS. 6. DEI. GRATIA. REX. SCOTORVM.*. rev. thistle at centre of saltire cross with crown terminals, crowned Scottish lions in angles, all within panel with eight thistles surrounding, initial mark pellet on quatrefoil, *FLORENT. SCEPT. PIIS. REGNA. HIS. IOVA. DAT. NVMERATQ (Burns 2, fig.951; SCBI Hunterian & Ashmoleon 35:1148-52; SCBI National Museum of Scotland 58:1262; SCBI Stewartby 71:1051/1052; S.5456). Fully centred strike on a full flan with a rich tone, an exceptional coin with an accomplished strike, both regal in its heraldry and overall design, paying homage to nautical prowess in its main design, slabbed and graded as the finest by NGC as MS61.

NGC certification 1811977-003 seemingly the finest graded at NGC with only one other inferior example two grades below.

The coinage of these Thistle Nobles was ordered on the 13^th September 1588 by Act of Privy Council at 23 ½ carats fineness. The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "James the Sixth, by the grace of God, King of Scotland" and on the reverse "Sceptres flourish with the pious, Jehovah gives them kingdoms and numbers them."

Provenance:

Ex Spink Coin Auction 4, 22^nd February 1979, lot 1103.

Ex Sotheby, October 1990, lot 388.

Ex Lucien La Riviere, Scottish Collection, Spink Coin Auction, 29^th March 2006, lot 150.

Ex Loch Ness Collection, Stacks Bowers Galleries, 16^th August 2021, lot 41518.