Pl. -uses, (7 -us, 7–8 -usses, -us’s). [a. L. Jacōbus James: see JACOB.] The current (but not official) name of an English gold coin, struck in the reign of James I.
Originally issued in 1603, under the name of the Sovereign, and current for 20s. In 1604 there was a second issue known as the Unite, which being 1/10 lighter, the value of the Sovereign rose to 22s. In 1612 The current value of the Unite was raised by statute to 22s., and the earlier piece rose to 24s.
1612. in Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1849), I. 197. The prince having entreated him to provide him £1000, in so many Jacobus pieces.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Obs., in Rem. (1661), 200. The English Iacobus goeth for three and twenty shillings in Merchandizing.
1678. Marvell, Lett. to Mayor of Hull, Wks. 1776, I. 346. The Jacobus’s cost twenty-three and eight-pence a piece.
1754. Richardson, Grandison (1781), II. xx. 216. In the second purse were 115 Jacobus’s.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xv. III. 585. His salary was … eight thousand Jacobuses, equivalent to ten thousand pounds sterling.
