Coin (obverse), two-thirds ducat or bonnet piece, from reign of James V

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This is the obverse of a gold two-thirds ducat minted at Edinburgh in 1540, during the reign of James V. The coin was worth 26 shillings and eight pence Scots. James's ducat was the first Scottish gold coin to bear a portrait.

The obverse bears a portrait of the king wearing a bonnet. There is an annulet on the inner circle behind the head. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James V, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'. The coin is dated 1540.

James V's reign saw the introduction of two new gold coins - the crown and the ducat. A new billon coin called the bawbee also appeared for the first time.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-084-274-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1911.506.1122
• Date: 1540
  
• Material: Gold; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv.: Lis IACOBVS . D . G . R . SCOTORVM . 1 . 5 . 4 . 0; pellet stops; bust to right, wearing bonnet; annulet on inner circle, behind head. Rev.: Cross HONOR . REGIS . IVDICIVM . DILIGIT; pellet stops; crowned shield
  Coin Type: cf Burns 1, fig 755
  Coin, two-thirds ducat / two-thirds bonnet piece
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 20.00 mm; weight 3.82 g; die axis 1.0
  
• What: Coin Type: cf Burns 1, fig 755
  Coin, two-thirds ducat / two-thirds bonnet piece
  
• Subject: Coins and currency
  
• Who: James V (King)
  Pollexfen collection (1900 sale, lot 325)
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James V gold two thirds ducat / two thirds bonnet piece, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh 1540
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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