Coin (Obverse), a one-merk piece of Charles II

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This is the obverse of a silver one merk piece minted in Edinburgh in 1672, during the reign of Charles II. The coin was worth 13 shillings and four pence Scots.

The obverse bears a laureate portrait with a thistle below. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Charles II, by the Grace of God '.

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: 000-190-000-082-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1933.176
• Date: 1672
  
• Material: Silver; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv.: CAROLVS . II . DEI . GRA .; laureate bust to right; thistle below. Rev.: MAG / BRI : FRA / ET . HIB / REX . 16 / 72 .; cross of four shields, with crowned linked Cs in angles; XIII / 4 in centre
  Coin Type: First coinage
  Coin, merk
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 26.00 mm; weight 6.28 g; die axis 12.0
  
• What: Coin Type: First coinage
  Coin, merk
  
• Subject: Coins and currency
  
• Who: Charles II (King)
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Charles II silver merk, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh, 1672
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' [multimedia CD-ROM] Edinburgh: NMS, 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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