How to Identify the Laurel

What It Is

The Laurel was an English gold coin worth twenty shillings, introduced in 1619 under James I to replace the earlier Unite. It takes its name from the laurel wreath worn by the king in the coin's portrait, a deliberate nod to the imagery of Roman emperors and a stylistic shift in royal coin portraiture.

Obverse Design

The obverse shows an armored bust of the king wearing a laurel wreath instead of a traditional crown, surrounded by a Latin legend naming his titles across England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, continuing the expanded titulature introduced on the Unite.

Reverse Design

The reverse features a crowned, quartered shield of royal arms, similar in concept to the Unite it replaced, along with a Latin legend continuing the union theme first used on earlier gold coinage of the reign.

Size, Weight, Metal & Edge

Struck in gold, the Laurel weighs close to 9 grams and measures roughly 30-33mm across, broadly similar in size to the Unite. As a hand-hammered coin, its edge is irregular, without the reeding seen on later milled gold coinage, and slight variation in shape between individual examples is normal.

Mint Marks & Dating

A small mintmark near the top of the obverse legend helps date the coin to a specific period within the reign, since Laurels do not carry a full numeral date in the way modern coins do. These marks changed periodically and are a key reference point for specialists trying to narrow down an issue.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

The clearest comparison is with the earlier Unite, which the Laurel replaced. The simplest way to tell them apart is the king's headwear: a laurel wreath indicates a Laurel, while a plain crown indicates a Unite. Laurels also continued to be struck briefly into the reign of Charles I with only minor design adjustments.

Grading at a Glance

Examine the wreath's leaf detail and the sharpness of the king's facial features, as these are the first points to wear down with handling. On the reverse, check the clarity of the shield's quartered divisions; a well-preserved coin shows distinct separation between each quarter and readable surrounding legend.

Authenticity Red Flags

As with other hammered gold coins, expect some natural irregularity in shape and strike centering. Be cautious of examples that are unnaturally round and uniform, have a weight inconsistent with genuine gold of the expected size, or show wreath and portrait detail that looks too crisp or stylistically modern for the early 17th century, particularly around the fine leaf edges of the wreath itself.