Description
James I of the House of Stuart, King of England 1603-1625 AD, Silver Shilling (5.87g, 30mm), Second coinage, initial mark Grapes (1607), Tower mint, London. Obverse: Fourth crowned bust of King James I facing to the right, wearing simple cuirass and ruff, mark of value “XII” to left field, inner beaded border and legend beginning with initial mark surrounds, “IACOBVS· D:G: MAG: BRIT: FRA: ET: [HI]: REX”. Reverse: Shield of Arms of the House of Stuart, inner beaded border and legend beginning with initial mark surrounds, “·Q[VÆ· DEV]S· C[ONIV]NXIT· NEMO· SEPARET·”. Spink-2655. Nicely toned and struck on a broad, round flan, typical points of flat strike, the portrait although a touch soft quite complete in detail, 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 is stated in full as “Quae Deus Coniūnxit Nēmō Sēparet”, with an English translation of “Which God united no man may divide”.
