Impressive Gold Rose Ryal of King James I

James I (1603-25), fine gold Rose Ryal of Thirty Shillings, second coinage (1604-19), King in robes seated facing on throne within tressure, holding orb and sceptre, portcullis below, initial mark mullet (1611-12), struck over coronet both sides, beaded circles and legend surrounding, .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, legend surrounding, .A. DNO; FACTVM. EST. ISTVD. ET. EST. MIRAB; IN. OCVLIS. NRIS., weight 13.71g (Schneider 9; Stewartby C/f; N 2079; S.2613). Toned with some raised die flaws on reverse, a bold very fine and a pleasing example of this rare mint mark with a great provenance.

Such large gold coins were struck in 23 and a third carat "fine" gold and the mullet mint mark was in use from the 1st April 1611 until 31st March 1612. Fine gold struck of this mark totalled some £1,486 worth and included the Rose Ryal, Spur Ryal and Angel, therefore the mintage was very small and the coins are subsequently rare to say the least.

The dies for these coins were studied in an article “Rose Ryals of James I 1605-17” by Lord Stewartby, British Numismatic Journal, Volume 71, 2005.

Provenance:
Ex Sir Kenyon Vaughan-Morgan, Sotheby, 17th June 1935.
Ex Herbert M. Lingford, part II, Glendining, 20th June 1951, lot 886 sold for £34 to Baldwin.