$8,539.00 USD
The 1621–1623 England Gold Laurel of King James I, struck under the Thistle mint mark, represents the high-value gold coinage of the early Stuart monarchy. Issued during the final years of James I’s reign, the laurel was introduced to replace the sovereign and unite England’s fiscal structure under a modernized gold standard.
Obverse: Features a laureate and armored bust of King James I facing left, with detailed armor and ruff, and the denomination mark XX behind the portrait, denoting twenty shillings. The surrounding legend reads: IACOBVS D G MA BRI FRA ET HI REX — James, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.
Reverse: Displays a long cross over a square-topped royal shield, quartered with the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. The legend reads: HENRICUS ROSAS REGNA IACOBUS — Henry united the Roses, James united the Kingdoms.
Graded PCGS AU55, this coin exhibits strong detail with only minor wear on the high points, a slight double strike visible on the obverse, and a trace of original luster in the protected areas. It is a handsome and historically rich specimen of early 17th-century English hammered gold.
