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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 

Choice Lion Spur Ryal
From the Bridgewater House Collection

312, Lot: 32. Estimate $75000.
Sold for $120000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

STUART. James I. 1603-1625. AV Spur-ryal (31mm, 6.26 g, 7h). Third issue, fine gold coinage. Tower mint; im: mullet. Struck 1611-1612. (mullet) · IACOBVS D : G : MAG : BRIT : FRA : ET HI : REX ·, crowned lion facing, holding scepter and royal shield; X V (mark of value) flanking / (mullet) A DNO : FACTVM EST ISTVD ET EST MIRABI :, floriated cross with lis at end of each limb and rose on sun in center; in angles. crowned lion passant left; all within tressure of eight arches with pellet in spandrels. Schneider 79 (same dies); North 2109; SCBC 2634. Superb EF, as struck, lustrous. Among the finest known, and very rare thus.


From the Clearwater Collection. Ex Goldberg 59 (1 June 2010), lot 3081; Davissons 19 (1 May 2003), lot 14; A.L. Lloyd Collection (Spink 160, 9 October 2002), lot 1067; Spink 30 (3 June 1983), lot 580; Bridgewater House Collection (Sotheby & Co., 15 June 1972), lot 86 (purchased by Spink).

The obverse design of this superb coin, depicting a splendid crowned lion sejant holding a shield of arms and scepter, has no comparison in the English series. It is possible that the inspiration for the design was the Lion Noble of James’s fourth gold coinage issued in Scotland before he succeeded to the English throne. See SCBC 5453; Burns Plate LXIX no. 949.