Scotland 1582 20 shillings
This specimen was lot 31643 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "James VI (1567-1625) 20 Shillings 1582 AU50 PCGS. 4th coinage. Placed on a broad flan with only minor strike doubling in places, little surface wear and a highly original appearance, each side displaying an attractive mix of purple-gray color in the centers with the addition of greenish-yellow color at the legends. Very choice quality for this rare issue. From the Jamestown Collection." The second specimen was lot 46014 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $432. The catalog description[2] noted, "SCOTLAND. 20 Shillings, 1582. Edinburgh Mint. James VI. NGC Fine-15. Fourth Coinage. Nicely centered with virtually full beaded borders on both sides. Glossy and evenly worn with smooth, problem-free surfaces. Pleasing lavender-grey patina reveals flashes of gold and blue iridescence in the protected areas. Dramatically struck multiple times on the reverse, somewhat obscuring the central arms. From the Loch Ness Collection." At the time of issue, the crown-size coin was forty shillings, making this issue equal to half an English crown. This type was struck 1582-85 and this is the most available date.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 235 grains, 0.916 fine silver; the second specimen is 15.04 g.
Catalog reference: S-5489.
- 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.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
- [2]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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