from Perth

Coin (Obverse), Half-Plack, from Reign Of James III

This is the obverse of a billon half-plack minted at Edinburgh between 1465 and 1482, during the reign of James III. The coin was worth two pence Scots. It was part of a hoard found at Perth in 1920.

The obverse bears a crowned shield with a cross fourchee on each side, in a three-arc tressure. There are trefoils in the spandrel. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'.

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:	000-100-053-092-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.C2640
Date:	1465 - 1482 Between 1465 and 1482
Material:	Billon; part of edge ragged; fairly worn. Inscription: Obv. Cross IACOBVS . DEI . GRA : REX . SCOTTORV'; stops are single and double saltires; crowned shield with a cross fourchee on each side, in three-arc tressure; trefoils in spandrels / Rev. Cross VIL
Dimensions:	21.50 x 21.00 mm D / Die Axis: 10.0
What:	Coin Type: 1st issue Coin, half plack
Subject:	Queen Street Coin Collection
Who:	James III Perth Hoard, 1920
Where:	Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh Scotland, Perthshire, Perth
Event:
Description:	James III billon half-plack, Edinburgh, 1465 - 1482
References:	'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967
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