Scotland, James III (1460-88), gold Half-Rider of Eleven and a Half Shillings, issued 1475-83, class II, crowned quartered Scottish shield of arms, single tressure fleury over long cross pattée, IACOBVS DEI: GRA REX. SC OTORVM, rev. armoured King on horseback galloping left, holding sword upright with plumed helmet, lis under sword arm, all within inner beaded circle surrounding, legend and beaded border surrounding, +SALWm: FAC: POPVLVm: TWm: DOmInE:, the double Vs joined like a W, 2.51g (Burns 1, fig.620; S.C.B.I. 35:733; cf.S.C.B.I. 72:758; S.5260). Well-centred strike, toned very fine, very rare.The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "James, by the Grace of God, King of Scotland" and on the reverse "O Lord, save Thy people" a Psalm from the Bible. 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.
Provenance:
Ex Richard Manley Foster, Sotheby, 3-5th November 1903, lot 271.
Ex Thomas Bearman, collection purchased by A. H. Baldwin, circa 1922.
Ex Richard Cyril Lockett, part V, Scottish and Irish, Glendining, 18-19th June 1957, lot 223 sold for £52.