Gold half-crown coin (reverse) minted during the reign of King Charles I

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This is the reverse of a gold half-crown minted at Edinburgh between 1637 and 1642, during the reign of Charles I. The coin was worth 30 shillings Scots.

The reverse has a crowned shield of arms between a 'C' (for Carolus [Charles]) and an 'R' (for Rex [King]), each with a lozenge below. The Latin inscription translates as: 'These united we guard'.

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: 000-190-000-025-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1911.506.1214
• Date: 1637 - 1642
  Between 1637 and 1642
  
• Material: Gold; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv.: CAR . D : G . MAG . BRIT . FRAN . ET . HIB . R; small pellet stops; crowned bust to left; small B, sideways, below (unclear). Rev.: . VNITA . TVEMVR .; lozenge stops; crowned shield of arms; C to left, R to right
  Coin Type: Third coinage, Briot's issue; cf Burns 8, fig 1037
  Coin, eighth-unit / half-crown
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 17.00 x 16.50 mm; weight 1.26 g; die axis 7.0
  
• What: Coin Type: Third coinage, Briot's issue; cf Burns 8, fig 1037
  Coin, eighth-unit / half-crown
  
• Subject: Coins and currency
  
• Who: Charles I (King)
  Pollexfen collection (1900 sale, lot 433)
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Charles I gold eighth unit / half crown, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh, 1637-1642
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, Ian Halley. The Scottish coinage: with supplement. London: Spink & Son, 1967
• Translations:
• Related Records: