Coin (Obverse), lion or hardhead, from reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

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This is the obverse of a billon lion minted at Edinburgh in 1559, in the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her marriage to Francis, the French dauphin. The coin was worth one and a half pence Scots.

The obverse has a crowned 'FM' monogram (for Francis and Mary) flanked by two dolphins. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Francis and Mary, King and Queen of Scots and Dauphin and Dauphine of Vien'.

The dolphin was the heraldic emblem of the dauphin.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-054-524-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C4072
• Date: 1559
  
• Material: Billon; reverse slightly off-centre; slightly uneven striking; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Cross FRA . ET . MA . D . G . R . R . SCOT . D . D . VIEN; crowned FM monogram; on either side, dolphin facing right / Rev. . VICIT . VERITAS . 1559 .; crowned
  Coin Type: 1
  Coin, lion / hardhead
  
• Dimensions: 16.00 x 16.50 mm D / Die Axis: 6.0
  
• What: Coin Type: 1
  Coin, lion / hardhead
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Francis, Dauphin of France
  Mary, Queen of Scots
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Mary and Francis billon lion or hardhead, Edinburgh, 1559
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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