Coin (obverse), half crown, from reign of James VI & I

This is the obverse of a gold half crown minted at Edinburgh between 1604 and 1609, during the reign of James VI & I. The coin was worth 30 shillings Scots or two shillings and six pence English.

The obverse bears a half-length portrait of the king wearing the Scottish crown. The Latin inscription translates as 'James, by the Grace of God, a rose without a thorn'.

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.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-050-668-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.C216
Date:	1604 - 1609 Between 1604 and 1609
Material:	Gold; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Thistle . I' . D' . G' . ROSA . SINE . SPINA .; crowned bust to right / Rev. Thistle TVEATVR . VNITA . DEVS .; crowned shield of arms; Scottish arms in 2nd quarter of shield
Dimensions:	18.00 mm D / Die Axis: 3.5
What:	Coin Type: 1st post-union issue Coin, half crown
Subject:	Queen Street Coin Collection
Who:	James VI
Where:	Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
Event:
Description:	James VI gold half-crown, Edinburgh, 1604 - 1609
References:	'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 Richardson (1901), 143 Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967
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