Pre-Long Beach Auction #84

Great Britain. Unite, ND. S.2620; Fr-234. James I, 1603-1625. Second coinage, fifth bust. Mint mark cinquefoil (1613-1615). Obverse, crowned half- length bust of king right, holding orb and sceptre. Reverse, square topped shield of arms with I R (Iacobus Rex) at sides. Mint state and glowing with original golden luster, this coin has one of the finest portraits of King James that I have seen. These coins were crudely made and irregular-shaped and few pieces of this quality have survived. Struck on a large round flan it is more attractive than the Thomas Law Collection, Marshall Collection, Cheshire Collection, Eliasburg Collection, Schneider Collection and Samuel King Collection specimens. NGC graded AU-58. WINGS Approved.

* This coin was minted in the middle of James's reign, circa 1613-1615. The king had survived the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, and despite his many failings he managed to keep the nation on an even keel. Perhaps his most enduring achievement was in the sphere of religion. He commissioned a translation of the Bible. Published in 1611 it became known as the Authorized Version, famous for its beauty of language. When James died in 1625, a prematurely senile figure at the age of fifty nine, he was not the most beloved of monarchs. But generally, it was agreed that this unlikely king had succeeded where his more illustrious forebears - and English cousins - had failed. He had united the kingdoms of England and Scotland and maintained peace in his realm.
Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000.