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Tyrants of the Thames
95
GOLD “SHIP” SPUR-RYAL (1605-1606)
James I, Stuart King, 1603-1625
London. Second coinage of 1604-1619. Rose mintmark. Very rare. This new denomination was valued
at 15 silver shillings, or half the value of the Rose-ryal. Its design was an updating of an earlier classic:
the king stands amidships, crowned and holding a large royal shield and a sword, his flag fluttering at
the bow, a rose at the hull where it meets the sea; reverse, a rose over a sunburst (spur-rowel) at the
center of the royal cross composed of 8 tressures, each over top of a royal emblem. A fine example of
this very rare issue, possessing one of the most remarkable designs of all early English gold coins, this
specimen on a broad flan with excellent detail and full, sharp legends from a strong, even strike, sheathed
in beautiful old-gold toning.
S-2614. N-2080. PCGS-graded AU55.
96
GOLD “LION” SPUR-RYAL (1619-1620)
James I, Stuart King, 1603-1625
London. Third coinage of 1619-1625. Spur-rowel mintmark. Crowned facing lion grasping royal shield
before him with his left paw, and holding high a scepter with his right paw; reverse, a rose over a
sunburst (spur-rowel) at the center of the royal cross composed of 8 tressures, each over top of a royal
emblem. Very rare. A fabulous example of one of the most beautiful of all English coins, glowing with
luster and boldly struck on a full broad flan, the lion-king’s face immaculate, the royal shield almost
fully detailed, the legends fully impressed with every letter sharp, and the gold color splendid. Among
the finest known examples.
S-2634. N-2109. PCGS-graded MS63.