Coin (Obverse), two pence piece or 'turner', from reign of James VI

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This is the obverse of a two pence minted at Edinburgh in 1597, during the reign of James VI. The coin was made of copper and was worth two pence Scots.

The obverse has a bare-headed portrait of the king. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James VI, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'.

The designs of the coin are closely based on those of a French copper coin known as a double tournais. The name 'turner' is derived from tournais.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-053-805-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C3353
• Date: 1597
  
• Material: Copper; slight flattening; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. . IACOBVS . 6 . D . G . R . SCOTORVM; bare-headed king's bust to right / Rev. . OPPIDVM . EDINBURGI; three thistle-heads with a small pellet in the centre
  Coin, two pence piece
  
• Dimensions: 21.50 mm D / Die Axis: 2.0
  
• What: Coin, two pence piece
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James VI
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James VI copper two-pence piece, Edinburgh, 1597
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: