Scotland 1566 2/3 ryal
This specimen was lot 41512 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Scarce 1578 Revaluation 2/3 Ryal, SCOTLAND. 2/3 Ryal, 1566. Revaluation of 1578. Crowned Thistle Countermark. James VI. NGC VF-35. Countermark: AU Strong. Deeply toned in slate-grey patina with gold and violet iridescence in areas. The crowned thistle countermark is evenly and deeply punched, showing only minor wear. Scattered old marks are noted in the fields but these have long blended into the complexion. The surfaces remain smooth and pleasantly glossed, contributing to superior eye appeal for the type.
As with the full ryals, the fractional ryals of Mary and James were recalled and revalued in 1578 due to rising silver prices. The present host coin was issued in 1566 under Mary and Lord Darnley, just a year before Darnley was murdered in an explosion in Edinburgh. While most often seen with significant wear and damage, this piece is an absolutely superior example of the type. From the Loch Ness Collection."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 20.36 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 20.21 g.
Catalog reference: S-5426; Burns-14 (Mary and Lord Darnley).
- 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:
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- Coins and currency dated 1566