Add to albumThis is the obverse of a gold unit minted at Edinburgh between 1609 and 1625, during the reign of James VI & I. The coin was worth £12 Scots or £1 English.
The obverse bears a half-length portrait of the king wearing the Scottish crown and holding an orb and sceptre. The Latin inscription translates: 'James, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland'.
The coins of James VI's reign are considered to have the most beautiful designs and most varied legends of all Scottish coins. After the Union of the Crowns of 1603, Scottish gold and silver coins closely resembled their English counterparts.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-100-050-691-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland H.C239
- Date: 1609 - 1625
Between 1609 and 1625
- Material: Gold: slight wear. Inscription: Obv. Thistle IACOBVS . D' . G' . MAG' . BRIT' . FRAN' . & . HIB' . REX .; crowned bust to right in armour, holding sceptre and orb / Rev. . thistle . FACIAM . EOS . IN . GENTEM . VNAM .; crowned shield of arms; I to left; R
Coin Type: 2nd post-union issue
Coin, unit
- Dimensions: 39.00 x 39.50 mm D / Die Axis: 10.5
- What: Coin Type: 2nd post-union issue
Coin, unit
- Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
- Who: James VI
Sutherland Collection (RBKS annotation on ticket in tray)
- Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
- Event:
- Description: James VI gold unit, Edinburgh, 1609 - 1625
- References:
- 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995
- Richardson (1901), 140
- Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967
- Translations:
- Related Records: