James I fine gold Rose Ryal mint mark Trefoil for 1613, NGC MS62 finest graded

James I (1603-25), gold Rose Ryal, second coinage (1604-19), King in robes seated facing on throne within tressure, holding orb and sceptre, portcullis below, initial mark trefoil (1613), struck over tower both sides, IACOBVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIBER REX, pellet and contraction mark stops both sides, rev. quartered shield upon large rose, within beaded circle, A DNO FACTVM EST ISTVD ET EST MIRAB IN OCV NRIS, weight 13.83g (SCH -; Stewartby C/j; N.2079; S.2613). Obverse struck from lightly rusted dies, with good portrait detail, has been graded and slabbed by NGC as MS62, a very rare mint mark with Stewartby recording only five examples in his 2005 article, three of which were in museums.

NGC 6769147-003 - seemingly the only example graded of this mint mark and top of population.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "James by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland" and on the reverse as "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes" a Psalm from the Bible, which should read in full "A Domino Factum Est Istud Et Est Mirabile In Oculis Nostris".

The total gold output of fine gold for this mint mark of trefoil from 29^th April 1613 until 20^th October 1613 totalled only £1,925 which would also include fine gold Spur-Ryals, Angels and their halves. It is therefore likely that the mintage of the fine gold Rose Ryal would not have been more than 1,000 pieces and probably less.

Such large gold coins were struck in 23 and a third carat "fine" gold. Reference: Rose Ryals of James I 1605-17, by Lord Stewartby, British Numismatic Journal, Volume 71, 2005.

Provenance:

Ex Spink & Son, Retail Purchase, March 1995.

Ex Spink & Son, Coin Auction 1012, 2^nd of December 2010, Lot 924 sold for £8,500 hammer.