Description
James I of the House of Stuart, King of England 1603-1625 AD, Gold Unite of 22 Shillings (9.98g, 36mm), second coinage, initial mark Tun (1615-1616), Tower mint, London. Obverse: Fifth half-length bust of King James I facing to the right, crowned and wearing elaborate armour and holding Lis-tipped royal sceptre in right hand and globus cruciger aloft in left, inner beaded border and legend beginning with initial mark tun surrounds, “·IACOBVS: D:G: MA: BRI: FRA: ET: HIB: REX·”. Reverse: Shield of Arms of the House of Stuart within ornate mantle and surmounted by the Tudor Crown, Royal Cypher “IR” (Iācōbus Rēx) to field either side, inner beaded border and legend beginning with initial mark tun surrounds, “·FACIAM· EOS· IN· GENTEM· VNAM·”. Spink-2620. A most handsome gold unite of James VI and I, fully round and lightly toned offering a pleasing patina, well struck legends and only slight softness over portrait, a very light crease otherwise problem free, near Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Iācōbus, Deī Grātiā Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae Rēx”, with an English translation of “James, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland”. The reverse Latin legend reads “faciam eōs in gentem ūnam”, with an English translation of “I will make them one nation”.