Scotland (1390-1403) 1/2 lion Fr-7
This specimen was lot 41489 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $16,800. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Rare Robert III Demy-Lion, The LaRiviere Specimen, SCOTLAND. Demy-Lion, ND (1390-1403). Robert III. NGC EF-45. Heavy Coinage, Without Tressure. The pale yellow tone across the high points is complemented by warmer apricot patina in the protected areas. Boldly struck from rusted dies and well centered on both sides. Remarkably lustrous and free of any notable abrasions. An EXCEPTIONAL specimen that is plated in Spink and pedigreed to the LaRivire Collection. One of just five distinct examples sold at auction in the past 15 years.
Burns remarks that each variety of these demy lions, or "demies," is associated with a corresponding silver issue as indicated by the lettering and ornamentation. While some varieties can also be matched to issues of the full lion, it seems these demies were also issued "while no corresponding coinage of pieces of the larger denomination took place." Ex: Lucien LaRiviere Collection (Spink - 4/2006) Lot # 38. Ex: Seaby's Bulletin (5/1949) Item # G481. Plated in Spink (4th ed., 2020)."
Several gold lions and half lions are listed for this ruler, ranging from rare to very rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 2.04 g.
Catalog reference: S-5157; Fr-7; Burns-6 (fig. 370).
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Man & Lundy), Pre-Decimal Issues, 2nd edition, London: Spink & Son, 2003.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
Link to: