Ancient, British and World Coins, Medallions and Books

James I (1603-1625), Third coinage, Crown, mm. thistle (over seeded rose), 29.77g/7h (FRC VII*/XIII* [not in sale]); N 2120; S 2664). Good very fine, toned, excessively rare; probably four known £8,000-10,000

Provenance: W. Dash Collection, Sotheby Auction, 9 May 1913, lot 19; G.R. Francis Collection, Glendining Auction, 24-6 March 1920, lot 68; Sir Kenyon Vaughan Morgan Collection, Sotheby Auction, 17-18 June 1935, lot 198; R.C. Lockett Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction, 11-17 October 1956, lot 2139; P. Karon Collection, Spink Auction 129, 17 November 1998, lot 70; E.D.J. van Roekel Collection, Spink Auction 156, 15 November 2001, lot 13.

The thistle over seeded rose mintmark was not included in the Glendining Sale of F.R. Cooper’s collection but is mentioned in his article on the Crowns of James I (BNJ 1970, p. 155). This is an unusual transitional coin with many of the characteristics of the second coinage (single stops, large Scottish lion) but issued in 1620-1 at the start of the third coinage