Scotland (1637-42) double crown Fr-57

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Stack's Bowers 2021 ANA sale, lot 41533
photo courtesy Stack's Bowers LLC

This specimen was lot 41533 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $8,400. The catalog description[1] noted,

"Rare Charles I Gold Half Unit, SCOTLAND. 1/2 Unit (Double Crown), ND (1637-42). Edinburgh Mint; mm: B. Charles I. NGC AU-55. Third Coinage, Briot's issue. A marvel of production and preservation, this piece is absolutely astonishing to view in-hand. It is expertly centered on both sides with remarkable definition to all elements. Considerable luster glows in the fields, appearing nearly prooflike on the reverse. Warm honey-gold patina in the protected areas contrasts with pale yellow color across the high points. A minor flan flaw is seen across the eyes of the portrait and a trivial waviness is noted under scrutiny. Incorrectly identified as S-5535 (Falconer's coinage) on the NGC label.

The half units, or double crowns, of the Charles I third coinage exemplify the monumental shift in quality introduced by Briot's mill and screw press. Sanctioned for use by the Lord of Secret Council on January 12th, 1637, the new press began production with the silver issues and it wasn't until December 14th that direction was given to begin striking gold. The half units are seen with both English and Scottish crowns atop the portrait, which seem to be of about equal rarity. The Scottish variants were evidently struck second as they feature a fleur de lis punched over the central cross of the English variety. Survivors of any variety remain VERY RARE, with only five examples sold publicly in the past 15 years. The present piece is among the very finest from this group and is traced to the 2006 sale of the Emile A. Tartakow Collection. From the Loch Ness Collection. Ex: Emile A. Tartakow Collection (Goldberg - 5/2006) Lot # 1265."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 4.5 g, 0.917 fine gold.

Catalog reference: KM unlisted; S-5534; Fr-57; Burns-5 (fig. 1034).

Source:

  • Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
  • 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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