My new most-expensive coin (King James Version)

lordmarcovan · June 17, 2025 1:54AM

I just agreed to a swap which will acquire me this ca. 1623-24 British gold Laurel of King James I.

King James is of course famous for commissioning the English translation of the Bible which bears his name to this day.

With about $4,350 in trade goods on my end of the deal, this coin is to date my most expensive acquisition, though I do have one US coin (an MS66 Saint-Gaudens double-eagle) which is worth a tiny bit more on paper.

I swapped a 2003 USA 1-ounce gold Eagle, PCGS MS70 (essentially boring modern bullion) and an 1895 Puerto Rico peso, PCGS MS61 (a very nice coin which I liked but didn't absolutely love). No cash out of my pocket, which was nice.

All told I had $4,350 in the pair. Atlas Numismatics was originally asking $4,695 for the Laurel.

Prior to this, the most I had ever paid for a coin was about $3,800 (for my 1799 Bust dollar).

I find hammered gold exciting, and to have a piece of big hammered gold, all the more so.

Here is the Atlas description on the Laurel:

1082030 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. James I. (King, 1603-25). (1623-24)-(lis) AV Laurel. NGC AU53. London. 9.05gm. Laureate and armored fourth bust, left; XX (mark of value) behind / Crowned square-topped quartered shield of arms over long cross fourchee. SCBC-2638B; Fr.-242; North 2114.

Third coinage.

Please use this link to verify the NGC certification number 6676567012