Coin (obverse), unit, from reign of Charles I

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This is the obverse of a gold unit minted at Edinburgh in 1637-8, during the reign of Charles I. The coin was worth £6 Scots or 10 shillings English.

The obverse bears a half length portrait of the king wearing a crown and holding an orb and sceptre. 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

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• Online ID: 000-100-050-693-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C241
• Date: 1637 - 1638
  1637-8
  
• Material: Gold; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv. CAROLVS . D : G . MAG . BRITAN . FRAN . ET . HIB . REX .; thistle and small sideways B flanked by two points above left side of crown; crowned bust to right in armour, holding sceptre and orb / Rev. HIS . PRAESVM
  Coin Type: 3rd coinage, Briot's issue
  Coin, unit
  
• Dimensions: 35.50 mm D / Die Axis: 6.0
  
• What: Coin Type: 3rd coinage, Briot's issue
  Coin, unit
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Charles I
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Charles I gold unit, Edinburgh, 1637 - 1638
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: