Scotland (1488-1513) unicorn Fr-18
This specimen was lot 41497 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $10,200. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Important James IV Unicorn, The Murray-Davidson Specimen. SCOTLAND. Unicorn, ND (1488-1513). Edinburgh Mint; mm: lis. James IV. NGC VF-30. Type I, Three Lis in Crown. Pale olive-gold with darker patina in the protected areas. A small split in the planchet and natural irregularity is noted at the lower obverse. While the centers are weak from worn dies, evidence of true friction remains minimal. An attractive example of this SCARCE type.
Burns original placed this variety under James III due to an association with groats of a similar style, though modern scholarship suggests an attribution to James IV. Either way, it is certain that these were among the earlier issues of this denomination, as they were soon replaced by the Type II design with five lis in the crown. This piece is among the most important survivors from this issue, with a pedigree to the Murray and Davison collections. From the Loch Ness Collection. Ex: Dr. James Davidson Collection (Dix Noonan Webb - 10/2003) Lot # 984. Ex: Mrs. Joan E.L. Murray Collection (5/2001) Lot # 1966."
Gold coins for this reign include this unicorn, a half unicorn (Fr-19), a lion (Fr-20) and half lion (Fr-21).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 3.72 g.
Catalog reference: S-5315; Fr-18; Burns-5 (under James III).
- 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.
Link to: