Collection record · Small worlds
Laurel: James I (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)
The collection record classifies this work as coins. It is dated 1619–1620. Recorded culture or place: England, James I, 1603-1625.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Laurel: James I (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)
- Date
- 1619–1620
- Culture / origin
- England, James I, 1603-1625
- Materials and technique
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1969.191
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
In 1611 the value of all gold coins, which had previously been down-rated, was now raised by ten percent. Previously the gold coins had circulated at inconvenient fractional values, such as 33 shilling; 16 shillings and 6 pence; 4 shillings and 4 pence three farthings; and so forth. To obviate this a new unit of 20 shillings value was introduced, of which this is a specimen. Showing the king wearing a laurel wreath, it quickly became known as a "Laurel."
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · The Norweb Collection · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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