Gold coin (obverse) with a portrait of King Charles I

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This is the obverse of a gold unit minted at Edinburgh between 1625 and 1634, during the reign of Charles I. The coin was worth £12 Scots or £1 English.

The obverse bears a crowned portrait of the king holding an orb and sceptre. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland'.

During Charles's reign the mill and screw coin press was introduced to Scotland by a Frenchman, Nicolas Briot, who was Master of the Mint for a time. The press lent Charles's coins a level of technical excellence previously unknown.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-084-428-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1911.506.1211
• Date: 1625 - 1636
  Between 1625 and 1634
  
• Material: Gold; reverse very slightly off-centre; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv.: . Thistle-head . CAROLVS . D'. G'. MAG'. BRIT'. FRAN'. & . HIB'. REX .; crowned bust to right, holding sceptre and orb. Rev.: . Thistle-head . FACIAM . EOS . IN . GENTEM . VNAM
  Coin Type: First coinage; cf Burns 1, fig 1030
  Coin, unit
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 37.50 mm; weight 9.97 g; die axis 5.0
  
• What: Coin Type: First coinage; cf Burns 1, fig 1030
  Coin, unit
  
• Subject: Coins and currency
  
• Who: Charles I (King)
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Charles I gold unit, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh, 1625-1636
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, Ian Halley. The Scottish coinage: with supplement. London: Spink & Son, 1967
• Translations:
• Related Records: