Coin (obverse), half-unicorn, from reign of James V

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This is the obverse of a gold half-unicorn minted at Edinburgh between 1513 and 1526, during the reign of James V. The coin was worth 11 shillings and six pence Scots.

The obverse bears a unicorn holding a shield of arms. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'.

James V's reign saw the introduction of two new gold coins - the crown and the ducat. The latter was the first Scottish gold coin to bear a portrait. A new billon coin called the bawbee also appeared for the first time.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-050-601-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C149
• Date: 1513 - 1526
  Between 1513 and 1526
  
• Material: Gold; struck from worn or partially blocked die; slight wear. Inscription: Obv. Crown . IACOBVS DEI : GRACIA . REX . SCOTOR VM : . :; stops are pellet, double pellet, two pellets, double pellet, five-pointed star, double pellet; S's are both reversed; uni
  Coin Type: As Stewart unicorn II
  Coin, half unicorn
  
• Dimensions: 21.00 mm D / Die Axis: 1.5
  
• What: Coin Type: As Stewart unicorn II
  Coin, half unicorn
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James V
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James V gold half-unicorn, Edinburgh, 1513 - 1526
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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