Scotland 1601 sword and sceptre Fr-46
This specimen was lot 21678 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2019), where it sold for $1,860. The catalog description[1] noted, "SCOTLAND. Sword & Sceptre Piece, 1601. Edinburgh Mint. James VI (James I of England). PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, AU Details Gold Shield. Eighth coinage. Though exhibiting some light cleaning as mentioned on the holder, a great example of the type, displaying little evidence of any actual wear. This denomination gained its name through the presence of the sword and scepter crossed in saltire on the reverse." The coinage of Scotland prior to unification with England is confusing. Bullion was scarce, so issues were small and sporadic. Pence and shillings were used but were not worth their English equivalents. This "sword and sceptre" was worth six Scottish pounds or about one English pound.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 5.05 g.
Catalog reference: S-5460; KM-20; Fr-46.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2019 Chicago ANA Auction: World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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