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Sale 37
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Lot 3956
Scotland. Gold Unite or Sceptre Piece, ND. S.5463; Fr-48. James VI, 1567-1625. Ninth coinage (1604-1609) following accession to the English throne as James I. Mint mark thistle. Crowned and armoured half-length bust of the King facing right holding orb and sceptre. Reverse: Crowned quartered shield with English arms in first and fourth quarters. I R (IACOBUS REX) at sides of shield, FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM VNAM ('I will fashion them into one people') as motto. The Scottish Unite (value £12 Scottish or £ 1 sterling) is a much rarer coin than the English equivalent. This specimen, which hails from several great collections of Scottish coins, is probably the fines known. unusually, it is a fully round coin, well centered, well struck up, on a good flan, with no area of weakness, an incredibly detailed portrait and much of the original luster still evident. NGC graded AU-55.
* James VI became Scotland's king on the abdication of his mother, Mary Queen of Scots in 1567. He was only one year old. It is said that the fate of the House of Stuart offers a strong argument against hereditary monarchy with its dismal succession of babies who were kings before they could talk! After 1567, Regents were appointed, but when the Scottish nobles were too squemish to kill their infant monarch they proceeded to liquidate the Regents. Regent Moray went in 1570, the Regent Lennox in 1571, the Regent Mar died in his bed in 1572 and the Regent Morton, although he had long resigned his office, was executed in 1581 for Darnley's murder 14 years previously!
After his mother's death in 1587 James became Heir Presumptive to the English throne and he was paid a pension of £4000 a year from Queen Elizabeth I. She also offered advice and support to the young monarch in his continuing struggle against the various power groups in Scotland. Knowing that the powerful Queen across the border offered his more than a small degree of security, James was able to indulge in the development of his theory of the Divine Right Of Kings. On March 24, 1603, at the age of 36 James heard from Sir Robert Carey who had ridden from London to Edinburgh in 60 hours, that Elizabeth was dead. King James VI of Scotland was now James I of England and Ireland. This exceptional Gold Unite was struck soon after this event.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Ex Garrett Collection.
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| Realized $6,325 |
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