Coin (Reverse), 20 shilling piece, from reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

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This is the reverse of a gold 20 shilling piece minted at Edinburgh in 1543, during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The reverse has a crowned 'MR' monogram (for Maria Regina [Queen Mary]) with a cinquefoil below. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord'. The words are taken from the Book of Luke.

Mary's coinage is divisible into five phases, reflecting her early life, two marriages and two widowhoods. During her reign numerous issues appeared in gold, silver and base metal, many of them comprising denominations never previously struck.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-478-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C168
• Date: 1543
  
• Material: Gold; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv. Cross MARIA . D . G . R . SCOTORVM . 1 . 5 . 4 . 3; stops are pellets; crowned shield of arms / Rev. Star ECCE . ANCILLA . DOMINI; stops are pellets crowned MR ligate; cinquefoil below
  Coin, 20 shilling piece
  
• Dimensions: 20.00 mm D / Die Axis: 4.0
  
• What: Coin, 20 shilling piece
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Mary, Queen of Scots
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Mary, Queen of Scots gold 20-shilling piece, Edinburgh, 1543
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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