Coin (reverse), ryal, from reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

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This is the reverse of a silver ryal minted at Edinburgh in 1566, in the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her marriage to Henry, Lord Darnley. The coin was worth 30 shillings Scots.

The reverse has a tortoise climbing a palm tree. The Latin inscription below translates as: 'Glory gives strength' while that around the edge translates as: 'Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered'(from Psalm 68).

Mary's coinage is divisible into five phases, reflecting her early life, two marriages and two widowhoods. During her reign numerous issues appeared in gold, silver and base metal, many of them comprising denominations never previously struck.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-050-854-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C402
• Date: 1566
  
• Material: Silver; slight to moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Cross . MARIA . & . HENRIC' . DEI . GRA . R . & . R . SCOTORV; crowned shield of arms; thistle to either side / Rev. Thistle . EXVRGAT . DEVS . & . DISSIPENTR . INIMICI FI' .; DAT GLORIA VIRES / 1566 acro
  Coin Type: 2nd issue
  Coin, ryal
  
• Dimensions: 42.50 x 42.00 mm D / Die Axis: 4.5
  
• What: Coin Type: 2nd issue
  Coin, ryal
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Ayr (Fort Street) Hoard, 1914
  Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley
  Mary, Queen of Scots
  
• Where: Scotland, Ayrshire, Ayr (Fort Street)
  Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Mary and Henry silver ryal, Edinburgh, 1566
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: