Scotland, James VI Thirty Shillings, 9th coinage (1604-9), mm. thistle head

James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), Ninth Coinage (1604-09), silver Thirty Shillings, after Accession to the English Throne, undated, type II, crowned and armoured king on horseback right, thistle and housings, holding upright sword, plain groundline, beaded borders and legend surrounding, initial mark thistle head both sides, .IACOBVS. D. G. MAG. BRIT. FRAN. &. HIB. REX., rev. flat topped quartered coat of arms, Scottish arms in the first and fourth quarters, .QVÆ. DEVS. CONIVNXIT. NEMO. SEPARET., 14.84g (S.C.B.I. 35: 1370 - 1373 inclusive Ashmoleon, 1374 Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 71:1412 - 1418 inclusive Stewartby; Burns 13, Fig 984; S.5504). Toned, weakly struck across one half caused by varying thickness to the flan, otherwise about fine.

The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "James, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland" and on the reverse "What God hath joined, let no man put asunder."

The Second Issue of silver was ordered from 7^th December 1609 also with initial marks of thistle and with the "&" in the legend but also with the Scottish Arms featuring twice in the reverse arms in opposing angles. The dated Six Shillings seems to have been struck for all dates from 1610-1619 and 1622, though only five of these dates were known to Burns writing before 1887. The smaller silver issues are of the same format at the first issue and indistinguishable. An Act of Privy Council dated 3^rd March 1612 ordered the profits from the coinage of the Scottish mint to be aligned with that of the mint in England. After the accession to the English throne there was no rise in the value of silver for fear of raising commodity prices hence the need for the Scottish profits to be reduced. The only metal value change was a rise of 10% on gold by a proclamation of 26^th November 1611.

Provenance:

Ex Dolphin Coins, purchased July 1997 from an older list, item number 180.