Obverse:

IACOBVS D G MA BRIT FRAN ET HIBER REX. King enthroned holding sceptre in right and orb in left hand, portcullis at feet.

Reverse:

A DNO FACTVM EST ISTVD ET EST MIRAB IN OCV NRIS. Square topped shield within large Tudor rose.

Three minor perforations on old crease lines otherwise about very fine and seldom offered for sale. Better in hand.

In 2001 Lord Stewartby conducted a die study of James I rose-ryals, reviewing examples in all major museums, institutions as well as known private collections and sales. There were only 3 examples of this die pair known, one in the Lockett Collection, which is also ex Evans, which sold in Glendining Auction, 11-17 Oct 1956 - Lot 2071; one in the Vaughan Morgan Collection, which was sold in Sotherby's Auction 17-18 June 1935 - Lot 63 and one in the National Museum of Scotland. This coin becomes the 4th example.

Ex Archbishop Sharp Collection, Morton & Eden Auction, 7 Dec 2017 - Lot 253.

Dr. John Sharp (1644-1714) was a clergyman who become Archbishop of York in 1691. His interest in collecting coins seems to have begun a few years before his appointment, around 1687 and with a primary focus on British coins. His interest, knowledge and collection increased and in 1785 he published his work ‘Observations on the Coinage of England’. On Sharp's death, the collection was left to his son John and was kept together for some 250 years by his descendants, with the occasional additions to the collection over time.

The descendants, among others, include;

John Sharp (1674-1726)

Dr Thomas Sharp (1693-1758), Archdeacon of Northumberland and Prebendary of Durham

Dr John Sharp (1723-1792), Vicar of Hartburn, Perpetual Curate of Bamburgh and Archdeacon of Northumberland

Anne Jemima Sharp (1762-1816)

Catherine Sharp (1770-1843) of Clare Hall, near Barnet

Thomas Barwick Lloyd-Baker (1807-86)

Further reading see: Lord Stewartby, (2001) ‘Rose ryals of James I, 1605-17’ British Nusmatic Journal, Volume 71, page 87-90.