Coin (Reverse), half dollar, from reign of Charles II

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This is the reverse of a silver half dollar minted in Edinburgh in 1681, during the reign of Charles II. The coin was worth 26 shillings and eight pence Scots.

The reverse has a cross of crowned shields of arms with thistles in the angles and two interlinked 'C's in the centre. The Latin inscription translates as: 'King of Scots, England, France and Ireland'.

Charles was proclaimed King of Scots shortly after his father's execution in 1649, and was crowned on 1st January 1651. No coins were struck until his restoration to the English throne in 1660, and no gold coins appeared during his reign at all.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-050-983-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C531
• Date: 1681
  
• Material: Silver; fairly worn. Inscription: Obv. . CAROLVS . II . . DEI . GRA .; bust to left; F below bust to left / Rev. SCO / ANG . FR / ET . HIB / REX . 16 / 81 .; crown of shields
  Coin Type: 2nd coinage
  Coin, half dollar / two merk piece
  
• Dimensions: 34.00 x 33.50 mm D / Die Axis: 6.0
  
• What: Coin Type: 2nd coinage
  Coin, half dollar / two merk piece
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Charles II
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Charles II silver half-dollar or two-merk piece, Edinburgh, 1681
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' [multimedia CD-ROM] Edinburgh: NMS, 1995 
  • Richardson (1901), 48 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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