Not so New! The double florin was first issued in1887 under Queen Victoria, but it was not a completely new idea as a four shilling coin had been issued as early as 1604 under James I. James I Thistle Crown Under James I, there were a number of changes made to the coinage, particularly to the gold coin denominations. James I of England was also James VI of Scotland. He had been James VI of Scotland since 1567, and acceded to the British Throne in 1603.