This is the obverse of a gold half sword and sceptre piece minted at Edinburgh in 1601, during the reign of James VI. The coin was worth 60 shillings Scots.
The obverse bears a crowned shield of arms. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James VI, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'.
The coins of James VI's reign are considered to have the most beautiful designs and most varied legends of all Scottish coins. After the Union of the Crowns of 1603, Scottish gold and silver coins closely resembled their English counterparts.
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