James I’s 1613 Unite: Crowned Gold and the Birth of British Identity > 자유게시판

Among the most coveted gold coins of Jacobean England, the 1613 XV unite captures a pivotal moment in British history.

Minted during the reign of King James I, who also ruled as James VI of Scotland.

This coin reflects the political and economic ambitions of a monarch seeking to unify his two kingdoms under a single currency.

Replacing the Tudor-era sovereign, the unite marked a deliberate shift toward imperial symbolism.

The 1613 issue represents the peak of early unite minting, with sharper details and consistent weight.

Made from fine 22-karat gold alloy, with a precise mass of 13.1 grams.

Worth twenty shillings—equivalent to a pound—it was among the most valuable coins of its era.

The obverse displays James I in profile, crowned and majestic, with the Latin motto proclaiming his divine right over Britain, France, and Ireland.

The reverse displays a majestic royal shield bearing the coats of arms of England Scotland France and Ireland, encircled by the Garter and crowned with a royal crown.

The legend around the edge reads with the date 1613 and the denomination XV, indicating its value in shillings.

Very few examples survive in mint or near-mint state, making high-grade specimens extraordinarily rare.

During times of inflation or war, アンティークコイン投資 the gold was often reclaimed, reducing the number of surviving specimens dramatically.

Numismatists highly value intact specimens for their blend of historical weight and artistic mastery.

The iconography was deliberate—combining the symbols of four kingdoms into one coin to legitimize the union.

This coin transcends its role as currency—it is a political manifesto in gold.

The coin’s lasting magnetism comes from its flawless design, its dramatic survival against the odds, and its silent testimony to Britain’s imperial origins.