Coin (obverse), half-unit or double crown, from reign of Charles I

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This is the obverse of a gold half-unit minted at Edinburgh between 1625 and 1636, during the reign of Charles I. The coin was worth £12 Scots or £1 English.

The obverse bears a portrait of the king in armour. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland'.

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: 000-100-050-676-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C224
• Date: 1625 - 1636
  Between 1625 and 1639
  
• Material: Gold; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Thistle . CAROLVS . D . G . MAG . BRIT . FRAN . & . HIB . REX .; crowned bust to right / Rev. Thistle HENRICVS . ROSAS . REGNA . IACOBVS .; crowned shield of arms; C to left; R to right
  Coin Type: 1st coinage
  Coin, half unit
  
• Dimensions: 28.50 mm D / Die Axis: 8.5
  
• What: Coin Type: 1st coinage
  Coin, half unit
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Charles I
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Charles I gold half-unit, Edinburgh, 1625 - 1636
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: