Scotland 1582 30 shillings
The first specimen was lot 41517 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Exceptional James VI 30 Shillings, Pedigree to 1941, SCOTLAND. 30 Shillings, 1582. Edinburgh Mint. James VI. NGC EF-45. Fourth Coinage, Before Accession to the English Throne. An appealing piece, especially beautiful beneath a light source. The purple-grey patina reveals intense colorful iridescence in the protected areas. Sharply struck and well centered, displaying intricate detail to all elements. Striking splits in the flan are noted at 12 and 6 o'clock; the lower edge with a somewhat ragged texture. Nevertheless, long recognized as an important survivor. EXCEPTIONAL for the issue. From the Loch Ness Collection. Ex: Dix, Noonan, Webb (10/2002) Lot # 765. Ex: Revd. W.L. Gantz Collection, Part II (Glendining - 6/1941) Lot # 1559."
The second specimen was lot 35099 in Heritage sale 3094 (Chicago, August 2021), where it sold for $1,800. The catalog description[2] noted, "Scotland: James VI 30 Shillings 1582 VF30 NGC. Fourth Coinage. Highly engaging, with sleek gloss from circulation layered in a steel patina. Light doubling in the strike is noted to James's bust and sword, while a single flan crack extends from approximately 9 o'clock toward the center." At the time of issue, the crown-size coin was forty shillings, making this issue equal to three-fourths of an English crown.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen 22.07 g, the second specimen 22.29 g.
Catalog reference: S-5487; Burns-2 (fig. 933).
- 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.
- [2]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, ANA WFOM World & Ancient Coins Platinum Night Signature Auction #3094, featuring the Cape Coral Collection, the WTR Collection and the Monaco Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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