James I Laurel, third coinage, fifth bust, plate coin Coins of England, 5 known

James I (1603-25),gold Laurel of Twenty Shillings, third coinage (1619-25), fifth laureate and draped bust left, "bracket" ties behind bust, value behind, initial mark trefoil (1624), legend surrounds IACOBVS D: G: MAG: BRI: FRA: ET HI: REX,rev.long cross fourchée over crowned quartered shield of arms, terminal mark trefoil, FACIA M EOS IN GENTEM VNAM, no stops in legend, weight 8.94g (Schneider 88; N.2115; S.2639 - this coin illustrated).Toned but perhaps once polished, weak in parts but with a bold portrait, a little smoothed on cheek, otherwise good very fine and extremely rare, one of only five pieces known, of which no more than three are available to collectors.

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 "I will make them one nation," taken from the Bible.

The trefoil mint mark was in use for a year and original pyx trial records show that £925,429 of 22 carat crown gold was struck for this mint mark from 1^st April 1624 until 31^st March 1625 the bulk of which is the preceding bust type; though clearly this final issue is starkly different to the earlier type bust of this mint mark and it has been ventured in the past that this could be a pattern. Perhaps more likely a final issue before the King's demise with only a very small coinage with scant few survivors. The rarest currency unite of all if so, otherwise an extremely rare, pattern and an intriguing portrait piece.

Provenance:

Ex Richard Cyril Lockett Collection, English part one, 11^th October 1956, lot 2125, sold for £26.

Ex The Norweb Collection, part 3, Spink Coin Auction 56, 19^th November 1986, lot 945.

Ex Spink Coin auction 75, 29^th March 1990, lot 206 - sold for £1,500 hammer.

Ex Clarendon Collection, part 2, Bonhams, 17^th October 2006, lot 1167.

This coin was one of a small number dramatically withdrawn before the sale at Bonhams, as the Clarendon Collection owner had made a private deal with the collector Geoffrey Cope to sell to him directly.

Ex Geoffrey Cope Collection, lot 1049.

Coins of England and the United Kingdon, plate coin illustration.