Scotland (1390-1406) lion Fr-6
This specimen was lot 41490 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 Light Lion, The McDonald Specimen. SCOTLAND. Lion, ND (1390-1406). Robert III. NGC EF-45. Light Coinage, Type II. Delightfully smooth surfaces with good luster in the protected areas. The surfaces feature warm olive-gold color with traces of darker patina throughout the legends. Somewhat soft at the lower elements but well centered overall. An old mark to the right of the shield is unnoticeable to the naked eye. A RARE issue with fewer than 10 pieces sold publicly over the past two decades, of which this piece is surely among the most desirable.
Burns suggests that this issue of light lions corresponds with the light groats of Robert III, as indicated by the style of the lettering and ornamentation. While most often seen without a cross supporting St. Andrew, the cross is visible on several varieties as seen on the heavy issues. From the Loch Ness Collection. Ex: David McDonald Collection (Dix Noonan Webb - 10/2004) Lot # 686. Ex: Dr. J. Davidson Collection, Part I (Dix Noonan Webb - 10/2003) Lot # 850. Ex: Bt. Spink (date unrecorded)."
Several gold lions and half lions are listed for this ruler, ranging from rare to very rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 2.51 g.
Catalog reference: S-5160; Fr-6; Burns-17 (fig. 420).
- 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.
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