Add to albumThis is the obverse of a gold half-unit minted at Edinburgh between 1637 and 1642, during the reign of Charles I. The coin was worth £6 Scots or ten shillings English.
The obverse bears a crowned portrait of the king. 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
To search on related items, click any underlined text below.
- Online ID: 000-100-084-430-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland A.1911.506.1213
- Date: 1637 - 1642
Between 1637 and 1642
- Material: Gold; no evidence of wear. Inscription: Obv.: CAR . D : G . MAG . BRIT . FRAN . ET . HIB . REX; first, third and fourth stops are lozenges, others small pellets; crowned bust to left; small B, sideways, below. Rev.: . VNITA . TVEMVR .; lozenge stops; crow
Coin Type: Third coinage, Briot's issue; cf Burns 5, fig 1034
Coin, half-unit
- Dimensions: Diameter 27.00 x 26.50 mm; weight 4.97 g; die axis 1.0
- What: Coin Type: Third coinage, Briot's issue; cf Burns 5, fig 1034
Coin, half-unit
- Subject: Coins and currency
- Who: Charles I (King)
Murdoch collection (1903 sale, lot 336)
- Where: Scotland
Scotland, Edinburgh
- Event:
- Description: Charles I gold half unit, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh, 1637-1642
- References:
- 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995
- Stewart, Ian Halley. The Scottish coinage: with supplement. London: Spink & Son, 1967
- Translations:
- Related Records: