James I Silver Halfgroat Thistle Mint Mark, First Coinage, 1603-4

Description

Denomination: Silver halfgroat (2d or two pennies)

Period: Stuart

Date: 1603-4

Origin: London mint

Condition: AVF/VF. full flan 

Obverse: First bust type. right. thistle mint mark. denomination to left. legend around

Reverse: Square-topped shield of arms. mint mark above

Size and Weight: 17mm. 0.94g

References: Spink 2649

Features and Provenance: James VI of Scotland became James I of England and Ireland in 1603. after the death of Elizabeth I who died without an heir. He later styled himself as ‘King of Great Britain’ and came to the throne as ‘an old experienced king’. However. he had a very sad young life. His father. Lord Darnley. was murdered when James was only eight months old. having been strangled and then blown up just to make sure. His mother. Mary Queen of Scots. who was forced to abdicate and was imprisoned in England. never saw her son again before her eventual execution in 1567.

As king of Great Britain he was constantly at odds with Parliament and they disagreed with his extravagant life-style. There were plots to blow up Parliament with him inside. but the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ of 1605 was thwarted with the discovery of Guy Fawkes. His coinage contains gold. silver. and for the first time. copper coins in the form of token farthings. He died in 1625. 

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible