AU Details | Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67), gold Portrait Ryal or Three Pounds, 1555, Edinburgh mint, bust facing left, legend and outer toothed border surrounding, MARIA DEI. G. SCOTOR. REGINA, rev. crowned Scottish arms, date in legend, .IVSTVS. FIDE. VIVIT. 1555., 7.46g (SCBI 58:266; Burns 291.1; S.5397). An ex-mount piece, extremely rare and popular in any grade, certified by NGC as AU Details – Removed From Jewellery, the AU designation impressive for this usually heavily-circulated type.
NGC Certification 6318986-004

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Mary, by the Grace of God, Queen of Scotland" and on the reverse "The Righteous live by Faith". A great deal of the gold in the coinage of Scotland at this period was mined locally principally from Crawford Moor, when nuggets from 2 grams to 30 ounces were discovered in the reign of James I (1406-37). These gold coins were minted in 22 carat gold. Mary abdicated from the Scottish throne in 1567 in favour of her young son James VI, who later united the Kingdom of Scotland with England as Great Britain, and as King James I of England.

Provenance:
Ex Rev. Arnold Mallinson, Spink Coin Auction 39, 6th December 1984, lot 126 sold for £3,700 hammer.
Ex Dr Lawrence Adams Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 100, 7th October 2015, lot 1091.

Estimate: £12,000 - £15,000