Coin (reverse), groat, from reign of James III

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This is the reverse of a silver groat minted at Berwick between 1467 and 1475, during the reign of James III. The coin was worth 12 pence Scots.

The reverse has a single long cross with six-pointed mullets in the 2nd and 4th angles and an annulet within groups of three pellets in the first and 3rd. The Latin inscription translates as: 'God is my Defender and my Redeemer. Town of Berwick'.

James III's reign saw a number of major coinage innovations including two new gold coins - the rider and the unicorn; a large billon coin - the plack; and thistle-heads and a realistic portrait of the king appearing on coins for the first time.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-052-943-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C2491
• Date: 1467 - 1475
  Between 1467 and 1475
  
• Material: Silver; oversized flan; slight flattening, moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Cross IACOBVS : D : GRA : REX : SCOTOR; stops are two double crosses and two double saltires; crowned and unclothed bust facing in eight-arc tressure with TL flanking neck / Rev.
  Coin Type: Stewart Ic
  Coin, groat
  
• Dimensions: 26.00 x 26.50 mm D / Die Axis: 1.0
  
• What: Coin Type: Stewart Ic
  Coin, groat
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James III
  
• Where: England, Northumberland, Berwick-upon-Tweed
  
• Event:
• Description: James III silver groat, Berwick, 1467 - 1475
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Richardson (1901), 4 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: