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SOVEREIGN RARITIES AUCTION XXIII: SCOTTISHSovereign Rarities will be hosting the Kilmarnock Collection & Part III of The Highcliff Collection on September 22. Additional select items are discussed below. -Garrett 
Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), silver Testoon of Five Shillings, dated 1558 both sides, first period before marriage (1542-58), Type IIIb, wide arched crown over Scottish arms, plain interior and crown band, M to left, R to right over a smaller letter A for Achesoun the die sinker, initial mark cross, legend with date surrounding, + MARIA. DEI. G. SCOTOR. REGINA. 1558., stop after date, rev. large cross potent with cross in each angle, legend with date surrounding, initial mark crown, IN. VIRTVTE. TVA. LIBERA. ME. 1558, 6.00g (S.C.B.I. 35:- Ashmoleon & Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:353 Edinburgh; S.C.B.I. 71:601, 602, 603 Stewartby; Burns 20 fig. 795; S.5408). Toned, one small rim chip, a couple of other rim nicks, well struck and centred, with clear identifying details, a bold very fine and extremely rare.
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Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), silver portrait Testoon of Five Shillings, dated 1561, third period (1560-65) first widowhood, date on tablet below bust of Queen in contemporary costume facing left, legend commencing lower left and outer beaded border surrounding, MARIA. DEI. GRA. SCOTORVM. REGINA., rev. crowned dimidiated arms of France and Scotland, four pellets on crown band, crowned M either side, legend and beaded border surrounding commencing at top, .SALVVM. FAC. POPVLVM. TVVM. DOMINE., 5.85g (S.C.B.I. 35:1111 Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:1150 same obverse Edinburgh; S.C.B.I. 71:1017 same obverse Stewartby; Burns 2 fig. 896; S.5422). Unevenly toned, hairline short scratch from cheek to field and another vertical short scratch in right obverse field, other light surface marks, some wear to higher points, otherwise with a great Renaissance style portrait of the Queen, very fine and highly desirable, rare.
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Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67) Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), silver Ryal of Thirty Shillings, dated 1567, fifth period, Second Widowhood, crowned Scottish arms, thistle each side, cross on crown breaks inner beaded circle surrounding with legend and outer beaded circle, .MARIA. DEI. GRA. SCOTORVM. REGINA., rev. tortoise scaling a palm tree, DAT GLORIA VIRES on banner scroll across tree trunk, date either side at bottom of field, beaded circles and legend surrounding, initial mark thistle with two leaves, .EXVRGAT. DEVS. &. DISSIPENTR. INIMICI. EI., 30.38g (S.C.B.I. 35:1133, 1134 Ashmoleon, 1131 Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:1220 Edinburgh; S.C.B.I. 71:- Stewartby; Burns 1 Fig. 912; Rampling dies C8/78; S.5429). Toned, a little double struck at top of reverse, nick under 67 of date, other light spots and nicks, otherwise a pleasing example, good very fine and rare, the final issue of the reign of Mary and the plate coin in the current Standard Catalogue.
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Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), copper Penny, type I (1547), undated, bust of facing infant wearing arched crown, beaded borders and legend surrounding, MARIA. D. G. R. SCOTORVM, rev. long cross fourchée, crown in first and third opposing angles heraldically, cinquefoil with pellet centre in other two opposing angles, beaded borders and legend surrounding, OPI DVM EDN BVR, 0.77g (S.C.B.I. 35:1065 Ashmoleon, 1066 Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:865 - 872 inclusive Edinburgh; S.C.B.I. 71:848, 850 Stewartby; Burns 2, fig.864; S.5440). Toned, rim a little ragged, a thin layer of silver wash still evident from when coin was newly struck, well centred with excellent detail, portrait one of the finest we have seen for this most desirable minor denomination of this reign, good very fine and of the highest rarity so well preserved.
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Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), silver Half-Testoon with crowned thistle revaluation countermark of 1578, value therefore increased from Two Shillings and Sixpence to Three Shillings and Eightpence, dated 1557 both sides, first period before marriage (1542-58), Type IIIa, initial mark cross potent on obverse, narrow high arched crown over Scottish arms, M over annulet to left, R over annulet to right, legend with date surrounding, MARIA DEI G. SCOTOR. REGINA. 1557, rev. large cross potent with cross in each angle, revaluation countermark to upper left, legend with date and stops surrounding, initial mark crown, IN. VIRTVTE. TVA. LIBERA. ME. 1557, 2.91g (S.C.B.I. 35:- Ashmoleon & Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:- Edinburgh; S.C.B.I. 71:- Stewartby; cf.Burns 11 fig. 804; S.5411 and p.78). Unevenly toned, flan a little undulating where the countermark was punched from reverse, a couple of other light marks, otherwise very fine host coin and revaluation countermark, extremely rare to find on this date of host coin.
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James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), second coinage, silver Two Merks or Thistle Dollar of Twenty Six Shillings and Eightpence, dated 1579, crowned Scottish arms, legend surrounding, .IACOBVS. 6. DEI. G. REX. SCOTORVM., rev. thistle with stem and two leaves, I to left, R to right, date in legend surrounding, initial mark crown, .NEMO. ME. IMPVNE. LACESSET. 1579., 21.64g (S.C.B.I. 35:1232 Ashmoleon, 1233 Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:1443-4 Scotland; S.C.B.I. 71:1156 Stewartby; Burns 1, fig.930; S.5480). Toned and a little uneven in shape, one short flan crack at 4 o'clock on obverse and at corresponding part of reverse, old ink mark number in obverse field to right of shield, otherwise good very fine, with a particularly pleasing rendition of the reverse with a detailed thistle, extremely rare.
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James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), second coinage, silver One Merk or Half-Dollar of Thirteen Shillings and Sixpence, dated 1580, the 0 of date struck over a higher and lower 0 or possibly a 9, crowned Scottish arms, legend surrounding, .IACOBVS. 6. DEI. G. REX. SCOTORVM., rev. thistle with stem and two leaves, I to left, R to right, date in legend surrounding, initial mark crown, .NEMO. ME. IMPVNE. LACESSET. 1580., the zero of date triple entered, 10.55g (S.C.B.I. 35:- Ashmoleon & Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:1447 Scotland; S.C.B.I. 71:1159 Stewartby; Burns 1b, fig.930B; S.5481). Toned with some degree of wear from use across half the coin both sides, otherwise good fine for issue, with important details clear, extremely rare.
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James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), third coinage, silver Eight Shillings, 1581, crowned Scottish arms, legend surrounding, .IACOBVS. 6. DEI. GRATIA. REX. SCOTORVM., penultimate O struck over a T, rev. crowned thistle with stem and two leaves, small annulet below, I to left, R to right, date in legend surrounding, .NEMO. ME. IMPVNE. LACESSET. 1581, 5.57g (S.C.B.I. 35:1235 Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:1450 Edinburgh; S.C.B.I. 71:1161 Stewartby; Burns 1a, fig.-; S.5483). Attractively toned, a little green verdigris on a couple of letters of legend, well struck on a circular flan, a little doubled on shield, some hairline scratches on obverse, otherwise a superb example of this denomination, almost extremely fine and extremely rare.
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James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), Sixth Coinage, silver balance Half-Merk of Six Shillings and Eightpence, dated 1591 with larger 1s, crowned Scottish arms, thistle in field either side, legend with date and beaded borders surrounding, initial mark pierced cinquefoil both sides, .IACOBVS. 6. D. G. R. SCOTORVM. 1591., rev. upright sword with scales of Justice, beaded circles and legend surrounding, .HIS. DIFFERT. REGE. TYRANNUS., the letter Ns more loosely formed from separate puncheons, 4.55g (S.C.B.I. 35:1247 Ashmoleon, 1248 Hunterian; S.C.B.I. 58:1495 - 1497 inclusive Edinburgh; S.C.B.I. 71:1186 - 1191 inclusive Stewartby; Burns 2, fig.937; S.5491). Toned with a grey silver colour, weak in parts with some light flan adjustment marks on rim, a bold very fine.
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James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), Ninth Coinage (1604-09), silver Sixty Shillings of Three Pounds, after Accession to the English Throne, undated, type II, crowned and armoured king on horseback right, thistle on housings, holding upright sword, beaded borders and legend surrounding, initial mark thistle head both sides, .IACOBVS. D'. G'. MAG'. BRIT'. FRAN'. &. HIB'. REX., rev. flat topped quartered coat of arms, Scottish arms in the first and fourth quarters, .QVÆ. DEVS. CONIVNXIT. NEMO. SEPARET., 30.00g (S.C.B.I. 35: 1369 Ashmoleon; S.C.B.I. 71:1410, 1411 Stewartby; Burns 11, Fig 983; S.5502). Toned, well struck and centred, some light surface marks and striations both sides, some nicks and hairlines in obverse fields, otherwise almost extremely fine with an excellent rendition of the King on horseback and the rarer type, extremely rare this well preserved.
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See www.sovr.co.uk for much more detail about all of these coins, medallions and more!
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