Coin (obverse), half-testoon, from reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

This is the obverse of a silver half-testoon minted at Edinburgh in 1556, during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. The coin was worth two shillings and six pence Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned shield flanked by the letters 'M' and 'R'. The crown is small and high-arched. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Mary, by the Grace of God, Queen of Scots'. This inscription is followed by the date, 1556.

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.

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Online ID:	000-100-054-440-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.C3988
Date:	1556
Material:	Silver. Inscription: Obv. MARIA DEI G SCOTOR REGINA 1556; crowned shield flanked by M R (small high-arched crown ) / Rev. Cross IN . VIRTVTE . TVA . LIBERA . ME 1556; 6 overlaps initial cross; cross potent with small cross in each angle; small crosses pla
Dimensions:	22.50 mm D
What:	Coin Type: 1st period, type III Coin, half testoon
Subject:	Queen Street Coin Collection
Who:	Mary, Queen of Scots
Where:	Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
Event:
Description:	Mary, Queen of Scots silver half-testoon, Edinburgh, 1556
References:	'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967
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