Scotland (1460-88) rider Fr-13
This specimen was lot 41495 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $12,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Scarce James III Gold Rider, The LaRiviere Specimen. SCOTLAND. Rider, ND (1460-88). James III. NGC VF-35. Type I, King to Right. Well centered on a tight planchet with notable doubling on the obverse. The surfaces are pleasantly glossy and smooth, with minor friction on the obverse that has long blended into the complexion. Warm pinkish luster in the protected areas is complemented by pale yellow tone elsewhere. Featuring bold definition and strong eye appeal, this piece also offers a great pedigree for advanced collectors.
James III took the throne at age 9 in Kelso and watched helplessly as factions pushed and pulled the government during his minority. He was not much more powerful when he came of age, a fact that seemed to bother him little, though a flurry of new denominations were introduced under his rule. As an alliance with England ended in conflict, James III managed to alienate much of the nobility before eventually being murdered by Scottish nobles led by his own 15-year old son at the Battle of Sauchiebrun. He was perhaps 37 at the time of his death. From the Loch Ness Collection. Ex: Triton XIII (1/2010) Lot # 2107. Ex: Lucien LaRiviere Collection (Spink - 4/2006) Lot # 58. Ex: Glendining (4/1983) Lot # 7."
The only gold coins listed for this ruler are Fr-13 (gold rider, shown here), Fr-14 (half rider), Fr-15 (quarter rider) and, late in the reign, Fr-16 (unicorn) and Fr-17 (half unicorn). All are even rarer than those of James' ancestors, suggesting the impoverishment of the kingdom.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 5.15 g.
Catalog reference: S-5256; Fr-13; Burns-2 (fig. 600).
- 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.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of the Coins of Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man, London: Coincraft, 1999.
- [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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