Summary

Gold coin; Denomination: Sovereign
Royal Mint, London
James I (1603-1625), First Coinage

This sovereign was current at 20 shillings. On this issue the King is styled King of England, Scotland etc., on his second issue this became King of Great Britain.

Obverse Description

Crowned half-length figure of the King facing right wearing armour and holding a sceptre tipped with a lis and orb; around, (Mm. thistle) IACOBVS D G ANG SCO FRA ET HI REX (translation: James by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland)

Reverse Description

Crowned and garnished Royal shield quartered with the arms of England and France in the first and fourth quarters, Scotland and Ireland, dividing the letters IR; around, (Mm. thistle) EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI (translation: Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered)

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976

  • Acknowledgement

    Purchased, Felton Bequest, 1929

  • Date Issued

    1603-1604 AD

  • Issued By

    King James I, England, Great Britain

  • Mint

    Royal Mint, London
    At the time of striking this coin the Royal Mint was in the Tower of London and is often referred to as the Tower Mint

  • Denomination

    Sovereign

  • Series

    England

  • Material

    Gold

  • Axis

    07

  • Classification

    Coins, Great britain, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    40 mm (Outside Diameter), 10.994 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Spink 2608 North 2065
    [Book] Skingley, Philip. 2007. Coins of England and the United Kingdom., Spink 2608 Pages
    [Book] North, J. J. 1963. English Hammered Coinage., North 2065 Pages