Scotland, James VII (1685-88), silver Pattern Sixty Shillings, dated 1688 in the name of James II, struck by Matthew Young after 1828, laureate and draped bust right, denomination “60” below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, IACOBVS. II. DEI. GRATIA., rev. inverted dies axis, crowned quartered shield of arms, within Order of the Thistle, date and Latin legend with toothed border surrounding, MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB. REX., edge plain and striated, 25.37g (S.5634). Toned, some very light hairline marks, graded by NGC as AU58, rare.

NGC certification 6674778-001

In the year 1828 the surviving dies and tools of engraver Norbert Roettier found their way to the London coin and medal dealer Matthew Young (1771-1838) operating from various addresses in London, but latterly at 41 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden (1827-37). Young was London's premier dealer of his day, and probably the most prominent coin dealer in England at the time. He was a personal friend of many of the top collector's and medallists of his day, he published Numismatic books and series of medallions as well as cataloguing collections known to him, when sold at Sotheby.

It seems in 1828 Mr Young bought a whole parcel of Jacobite dies from a Mr Cox who had previously obtained them from the Roettier daughters in a state of advanced age, presumably in the 18th Century. Matthew Young recommissioned dies into use by concentrically polishing the rust from the surfaces; and struck a limited number of specimens of coins that effectively could have been in varying metals for collectors. One of the recommissioned pairs of unused dies was for a Sixty Shilling piece dated 1688 of James II of England of which a limited number were struck in gold and silver.

After Matthew Young had finished his production run, he defaced all the dies and presented them to the British Museum, where Helen Farquhar examined them in 1906 for her article cited earlier.

Estimate: £ 2000 - 3000