James I unite

A unite or gold sovereign of James I, (1603-25), 2nd issue. The obverse with half-length figure of the king crowned, profile to right, in decorated armour, holding a sceptre with the legend: JACOBVS. D.G. MAG. BRIT.FRA'ET HI.REX ('James by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland'). The reverse: with long cross fourchee over crowned square-toped quartered shield with terminal mint mark of a spur rowel. The letters ‘I' and 'R' for Jacobus Rex, flanking the shield, and surrounding the legend: FACIAM.EOS.IN.GENTEM.VNAM, ('I will make them one nation'), The mint mark is a spur rowel (1619).

The reduction of the weight of a troy gold pound in 1604 led to the issue of the Unite as part of the second coinage of James I. It was initially valued at 20 shillings which was increased to 22 shillings after 1612. The records of the Trial of the Pyx show that £109,653 of 22 carat crown gold was struck for the spur rowel mint mark from 20th August 1619 until 31st March 1620.