• Metal detecting holidays in England with the World's most successful metal detecting club.

    Twinned with Midwest Historical Research Society USA

     

    James I, King of England, VI of Scotland (1566 - 1625)

    Hammered silver and gold coins page

    Other links

    The House of Stuart family and timeline of events

     

    James was offspring of the doomed match between Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley, who was murdered early in 1567 before James was one year old. Mary was forced to abdicate in favour of her son when he was only 13 months, and the infant king took up the Scottish throne. John Knox, Reformation leader, preached the sermon at James' coronation. James' childhood was turbulent, marred by a long and troubled minority which saw a succession of regents as well as civil war. A more positive influence came in the form of George Buchanan, who imparted intellectual curiosity in the young king that was to stay with him for life.

    James became the first Stuart king of England in 1603 under the terms of the Treaty of Berwick which he had signed with Elizabeth I in 1586. The Treaty pledged allegiance between the two countries and promised mutual help against invasion, thus protecting England from France. And so James acquiesced to his mother's execution and remained neutral when the Spanish Armada threatened English shores.

    As Scottish king he consented to an act of parliament establishing Presbyterianism in Scotland and with support he subdued the Roman Catholic earls. He married Anne of Denmark whom he loved and together they had nine children.

    The move to England came with the death of Elizabeth. On arrival he realised that he was considered an alien and his strong opinions about the divine right of kings earned him a reputation for narrow-mindedness and intellectual bullying. His tract Basilicon Doron (meaning 'the kingly gift') was intended as an instruction manual to his eldest son, Prince Henry, should the father die - after all, frequent attempts were made on James' life - but the text was leaked and used as an example of James' dogma.

    Yet despite his critics, James is considered a highly successful king. He made it clear that he intended to radically change the Elizabethan church, heralding his cause with the slogan, 'No bishop, no king!' Although this prompted Catholic reaction, such as the failed Gunpowder plot, James was able to make a lasting impression on church history, commissioning a version of the Bible that was to become the standard text for more than 250 years - the King James Bible. His run-ins with Parliament, which led for example to the Addled Parliament in 1614, did not lead to serious rebellion. And in foreign policy he was an arbitrator: he made peace with Spain and aspired to achieve even greater stability throughout Europe, but his efforts were thwarted by Protestant opinion in Britain and Spanish resistance. Further abroad, he reigned over the beginning of Empire and authorized the Evangelistic Grant Charter to settle the Colony of Virginia.

    As well as numerous attempts on his life, James I (VI of Scotland) suffered from ill-health and depression after the early death of Prince Henry in 1612. He was particularly distraught at the loss of his beloved wife in 1619. The King himself passed away on March 27th, 1625, and is buried in Westminster


     

     

    Monster find, rare - 1603 James 1st hammered silver half crown - 1st issue Lis mintmark

    34.88mm - 14.79g

     

     

    Gold

     

    1619 -25 James 1st hammered gold Quarter-laurel - 2.24g, 19.46mm 2nd coinage

    1605 James 1st hammered gold Thistle- Crown (4 shillings)

    1615-16 James 1st hammered silver Britain crown - Tun mintmark

    2.46g, 20.03mm

    1604-5 James 1st hammered gold Britain crown - Lis mint mark

    2.43g, 20.85mm

     

     

    Half penny

     

     

    Tiny 1603 James 1st hammered silver halpenny penny - portcullis type

     

     

     

    1605 James 1st hammered silver halfpenny
    1605 James 1st hammered silver halfpenny
    1605 James 1st hammered silver halfpenny
    1603-4 James 1st hammered silver half penny
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half penny 1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half penny -Lis mint mark
    1613-15 James 1st hammered silver half penny - Trefoil mint mark 1623-4 James 1st hammered silver half penny - Lis mint mark
    1613-15 James 1st hammered silver half penny - Cinquefoil mint mark 1613-15 James 1st hammered silver half penny - Cinquefoil mint mark
     
    James 1st 1603 hammered silver halfpenny James 1st 1603 hammered silver halfpenny
    James 1st 1603 hammered silver halfpenny 1623-4 James 1st hammered silver half penny - Lis mint mark
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half penny - Lis mint mark 1623-4 James 1st hammered silver half penny - Lis mint mark
     
    1623-4 James 1st hammered silver half penny - Lis mint mark  

     

    Penny

     

    1603-4 James1st hammered silver penny - thistle mintmark 1st coinage
    1603-4 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1603-4 James 1st hammered silver one pence
    1603 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1603 -4 James 1st hammered silver penny 1619-25 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1619-25 James 1st hammered silver penny - two dots 1604 -19 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1604 -19 James 1st hammered silver penny 1603 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1603 -4 James 1st hammered silver penny 1603 -4 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1613 James 1st hammered silver penny- Trefoil mint mark 1603 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1623- 4 James 1st hammered silver penny - Lis mint mark 1603 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1603 James 1st hammered silver penny 1603 -4 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1611-12 James 1st hammered silver penny - Mullet mint mark 1607-9 James 1st hammered silver penny - Coronet mint mark
    1605-6 James 1st hammered silver penny- Rose mint mark 1603 -4 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1603 James 1st hammered silver penny 1603 James 1st hammered silver penny
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver penny - Lis mint mark 1605-6 James 1st hammered silver penny- Rose mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver penny 1619-20 James 1st hammered silver penny- spur rowel mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver penny 1611-12 James 1st hammered silver penny - mullet mint mark
     
    1603-4 James 1st hammered silver oen pence - first issue  

     

    Half groat (2 pence)

     

    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat ( 2 pence)(d)
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence) 0.90g
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence)
    1604- 19 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence ) Second coinage
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence)
    1605 James 1st Irish hammered silver half groat (2 pence)
    James 1st 1604-5 hammered silver half groat (2 pence)
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat ( 2 pence)
    1605 James 1st hammered silver half groat ( 2 pence)
    1605 James 1st hammered silver half groat ( 2 pence)
    1603-4 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence)
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1613- 15 James 1st hammered silver half groat ( 2 pence ) Cinquefoil mint mark
    1618-19 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Plain cross mint mark 2nd coinage
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence)
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence)

    1604 - 5 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence) First coinage Lis mintmark

    1.26g, 18.28mm

    1603-4 James 1st hammered silver half groat - first issue 0.96g, 16.80mm
    1615 -16 James 1st hammered silver half groat - 2nd issue Tun mintmark - 0.69g, 16.17mm
    1604-19 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1623-4 James 1st hammered silver half groat - 3rd coinage Lis mintmark
    1619-20 hammered silver half groat - spur rowell mintmark 3rd coinage
    1607-9 James 1st hammered silver half groat- Coronet mint mark 2nd coinage
    1603 -4 James 1st hammered silver half groat - 1st issue
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1607 -9 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1604-19 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1618-19 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Plain cross 2nd coinage
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1618-19 James 1st hammered silver 2 pence
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1606-7 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1603 James 1st hammered silver hlaf groat
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1630 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1613 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Trefoil mint mark
    1607-9 James 1st half groat - Crown mint mark 1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat - First coinage Lis mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1604 -5 James 1st hammered silver half groat - First issue - Lis mint mark
    1623- 4 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Lis mint mark 1604 -5 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Lis mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1605-6 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Rose mint mark
    1604 -5 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Lis mint mark 1618-19 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1604 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1613 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Trefoil mint mark Possible 1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1621-3 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Thistle mint mark 1603- 4 James 1st hammered silver half groat- Thistle mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Lis mint mark 1607-9 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Coronet mint mark
    1603-4 James 1st hammerted silver half groat- Thistle mint mark 1606-7 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Escallop mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat (2 pence) 1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    1620-1 James 1st hammered silver half groat- Rose mint mark 1606 James 1st hammered silver half groat-escallop mint mark
    17thC James 1st hammered silver half groat fragment 1623-4 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Lis mint mark
    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Lis mint mark 1606-7 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Escallop mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1621- 3 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Thistle mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1605-6 James 1st hammered silver half groat- rose mint mark
    1624 James 1st hammered silver half groat 1605 -6 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Rose mint mark
    1621- 3 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Thistle mint mark 1603 James 1st hammered silver half groat

     

    Groat (4 pence)

     

    Irish 1605 James 1st hammered silver groat (4 pence)

     

    Six pence

     

    1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence(y)
    1609 James 1st hammered silver six pence third bust
    1604 James 1st hammered silver sixpence(y)
    1604 James 1st hammered silver 6 pence
    1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence - first bust
    1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1604 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence

    1603 James 1st hammered silver six pence - 1st issue

    Obv JACOBVS D G ANG SCO FRAN ET HIBER REX

    Fixed 1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence

    1606 James 1st hammered silver sixpence

    1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence

    1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence qtr
    1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1605 -6 James 1st hammered silver 6 pence
    1604 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
       
       
    1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence 1604 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1606 James 1st hammered silver sixpence 1607 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1606 James 1st hammered silver sixpence 1604 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1607 James 1st hammered silver sixpence 1604 Jams 1sat hammered silver six pence
    1610- 11 Irish James 1st hammered silver sixpence - Bell mint mark 1613 - 15 James 1st hammered silver sixpence - Cinquefoil mint mark
    1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence 1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1603 James 1st hammered silver clipped sixpence 1604 James 1st hammered silver sixpence - Lis mint mark
    Irish 1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence 1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    Irish 1605 - 5 James 1st 1st hammered silver sixpence - Rose mint mark 1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence - Thistle mint mark
    1603-4 James 1st hammered silver hammered silver sixpence - First coinage 1606-7 James 1st hammered silver sixpence - Escallop mint mark
    1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence 1610-11 Irish James 1st hammered silver sixpence - Bell mint mark
    1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence - Rose mint mark

    1610-11 Irish James 1st hammered silver sixpence - Bell mint mark

    Obv JACOBUS D.G. ANG SCO FRA ET HIB REX

    Rev TUEATUR UNITA DEUS

    1603 James 1st hammered silver sixpence -Thistle mint mark 1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
     
    1610- 11 Irish James 1st hammered silver sixpence  

     

    Shilling (12 pence)

     

     

     

     

     

     

    1610-11 James 1st hammered silver shilling (12 pence)

    Bell mint mark 3rd coinage 6th bust- very rare coin as it should have 5th bust with this year and mint mark

    5.87g, 32.02mm

    1605-6 James 1st hammered silver shilling - Rose mint mark

    5.65g,29.83mm

    1619-25 James 1st hammered silver shilling (XII pence) 3rd coinage
    1619 -25 James 1st hammered silver shilling ( 12 pence) curly hair bust - 3rd coinage
    1606-7 James 1st hammered silver shilling
    1605 James 1st hammered silver sixpence
    James 1st 1605 Irish hammered silver shilling
    1603-4 James 1st hammered silver shilling

    1604-5 James 1st hammered silver shilling (12 pence) 2nd bust First coinage

    Obv IOCOBUS D G ANG SCO FRAN ET HIBER REX

    Rev EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI

    1603 James 1st hammered silver shilling (12 pence)
    1603 James 1st hammered silver shilling (12 pence) 1621-3 James 1st hammered silver shilling (12 pence)
     
    1603 James 1st hammered silver shilling