Reproduction James I Gold Laurel

Obverse: Laureate bust of James I in armour left, value XX (twenty shillings) behind. Text separated by colon stops. Text around IACOBVS D G MAG BRI FRA ET HI REX.

Reverse: Long cross fleury over crowned square royal shield. The shield has the English arms in the first and fourth quarters, the rampant lion of Scotland in the second quarter and the harp of Ireland in the third. Text around FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM VNAM (I will make them one nation).

History: With the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne, the royal titles and coat of arms were altered on the coinage. The coat of arms depicted the Scottish rampant lion and the Irish harp in the second and third quarters.

In 1604 a new gold coin was introduced called the Unite, but by 1619 it was replaced with a new 20-shilling coin called the Laurel, which were only struck during the reign of James I. The original of this gold Laurel coin was minted during the Third coinage (1619-24) and depicts the Fifth bust and Trefoil mintmark.

Date: Third coinage, rare fifth bust, mintmark Trefoil, date 1613

Diameter: 3.4cm