Coin (Reverse), four merk piece, from reign of Charles II

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This is the reverse of a silver four merk piece minted in Edinburgh in 1675, during the reign of Charles II. The coin was worth 53 shillings and four pence Scots.

The reverse has a cross of shields of arms with crowned and interlinked 'C's in each angle. The Latin inscription translates as: 'King of Great Britain, France and Ireland'.

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: 000-100-050-962-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C510
• Date: 1675
  
• Material: Silver; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. . CAROLVS . II . DEI . GRA .; bust to right; F below bust / Rev. MAG / BRI . FRA / ET . HIB / REX . 16 / 75 .; LIII / 4 in centre of cross of shields
  Coin Type: 1st coinage
  Coin, four merk piece
  
• Dimensions: 40.00 mm D / Die Axis: 12.0
  
• What: Coin Type: 1st coinage
  Coin, four merk piece
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Charles II
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Charles II silver four-merk piece, Edinburgh, 1675
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' [multimedia CD-ROM] Edinburgh: NMS, 1995 
  • Richardson (1901), 2 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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