Catalog
1 Shilling - James I Fourth Bust
| Issuer | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Year | 1604-1607 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A large Irish harp, with a winged female figure as the forepillar, surmounted by a royal crown, occupies the central field within a beaded inner circle. The mintmark appears at the beginning of the circumferential legend, which is separated by pellet stops. The design is characteristic of the Irish coinage issued under James I, with the harp serving as the principal symbol of the kingdom of Ireland. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
James I inherited a monetary mess in Ireland. The Nine Years' War had ended in 1603 leaving the island flooded with debased and clipped coinage, much of it the product of Elizabeth I's deliberate debasement policy toward Irish silver issues. The 1604 recoinage was an attempt to restore credibility to the Irish monetary system under unified Stuart rule, though the shilling issues of this period still circulated well below their nominal English equivalents in practice.
The KM#15.1 and 15.2 distinction reflects a die variation in the bust treatment documented by Spink — collectors working this series should consult Simon's works alongside Dowle and Finn for attribution.