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Sale 74
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Lot 4384
Great Britain. Crown, ND. S.2652; Dav-3759. James I, 1603-1625. Second coinage (1604-1619). Mint mark, lis (1604-1605). Obverse: King on horseback facing right, holding sword in right hand. Reverse: Ornate Stewart shield and motto: QVAE DEVS CONIVNXIT NEMO SEPARET ('that which God has joined together let no man separate' - a reference to the union of the thrones of Scotland and England). A good round coin and beautifully struck in every sharp detail, with the tiniest of surface and flan marks. It may have been smoothed in fields a long time ago, but this does not detract from the great detail and eye appeal. Almost mint sate with a pleasing dark tone, this is a major rarity and ranks at the top of the few high quality pieces known. In our opinion nicer than the Slaney collection specimen which fetched £9,200 British Pounds in May 2003, and certainly nicer than any of the four Van Roekel collection James I Second Coinage crowns which were offered in 2001. NGC graded Extremely Fine, Details (Tooled).
This crown was struck during the period 1604-1605 when the small lis mintmark was used on the coinage.
When James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English throne in 1603 upon the death of the popular Queen Elizabeth I, he had already achieved a reputation as a successful ruler as well as a scholar. It was with considerable anticipation then that the English awaited his arrival.
The early impressions of the new ruler who was to style himself the 'King of Great Britain,' were not favorable. James had never been an heroic figure, but his pallid countenance and limping figure were growing more prepossessing with age. His broad Scots accent and often clownish manners dismayed his courtiers. One Englishman commented, 'He is wonderfully clever,' but he added 'and he has an excellent opinion of himself.' To some extent James's self-confidence was justified. He had successfully managed his turbulent Scottish kingdom, but did not realize that England had a much rowdier and more demanding Parliament.
For the first few years of his reign James was carried along by Elizabeth's old ministers and notably Robert Cecil whom he created Earl of Shaftesbury in 1605. In 1605 he was also fortunate that a plot by a group of Catholic conspirators (including Guy Fawkes) was discovered before the gunpowder they had concealed below the Houses of Parliament could have 'blown up all at a clap.'
Perhaps James was lucky that he never had a major confrontation with Parliament before he died in 1625 aged fifty nine. His son Charles I was not so lucky.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
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| Realized $10,638 |
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