Coin (obverse), half-noble or quarter-merk, from reign of James VI

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This is the obverse of a silver half-noble minted at Edinburgh in 1572, during the reign of James VI. The coin was worth three shillings and four pence Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned shield between a '3' and a '4' (the numbers indicate the coin's value). The Latin inscription translates as: 'James VI, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'.

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: 000-100-053-710-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C3258
• Date: 1572
  
• Material: Silver; slight flattening; slight to moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Cross . IACOBVS . 6 . DEI . GRATIA . REX . SCOTORVM .; crowned shield between three and four / Rev. Cross . SALVVM . FAC . POPVLVM . TVVM . DNE . 1572 .; foliated cross with a star in t
  Coin Type: 2nd coinage
  Coin, half noble / quarter merk
  
• Dimensions: 26.50 x 26.00 mm D / Die Axis: 12.5
  
• What: Coin Type: 2nd coinage
  Coin, half noble / quarter merk
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Beith (Mossend Farm) Hoard, 1958
  James VI
  
• Where: Scotland, Ayrshire, Beith, Mossend Farm
  Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James VI silver half-noble or quarter-merk, Edinburgh, 1572
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • PSAS 91 (1957 - 1958), p 197 - 198 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: