{{Short description|Coin of the Kingdom of England}} {{Onesource|date=January 2025}} [[File:Post-Medieval coin, half laurel of James I (FindID 564308).jpg|thumb|Half laurel of James I, 1623 or 1624]] The '''half laurel''' was a [[coin]] of the [[Kingdom of England]] minted between 1619 and 1625,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://britanniacoincompany.com/buy-coins/gold-coins/1621-half-laurel-thistle/ |title=1621-1625 James I Hammered Gold Half Laurel London Thistle Mintmark |website=The Britannia Coin Company |access-date=2025-01-21}}</ref> with a value of ten [[shilling]]s (half a [[pound sterling|pound]], or half a [[laurel (British coin)|laurel]]).
The half laurel was the third English [[gold coin]] with a value of ten shillings produced during the reign of [[James I of England|King James I]]. It was named after the laurel that the king is portrayed as wearing on his head, but it is considerably poorer in both quality and style than both the [[half sovereign]] and the [[Crown (British coin)|double crown]] which preceded it. The coin was produced during James I's third coinage (1619–1625). All the coins were produced at the [[Royal Mint (Tower of London)|Tower Mint]] in the [[City of London]].
The half laurel was introduced to replace the double crown of 1604, which had an initial value of ten shillings but whose value had been increased to eleven shillings in 1612 because of the increasing value of gold; the need was felt for a ten-shilling coin in circulation again.
The King is looking to the left of the coin and has the value {{roman numeral|X}} for "10 shillings" to the right, behind the kings' head. The legend on the [[obverse]] reads <small>IACOBUS D G MAG BRI FRA ET HIB REX</small> – James, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland – while the reverse shows a long cross over a crowned shield with the arms of the four countries, and the legend <small>HENRIC ROSAS REGNA IACOB[US]</small> – Henry [united] the roses, James the kingdoms.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Portal|Money}} {{Coins of England}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Half Laurel}} [[Category:English gold coins]]