Coin (obverse), 'penny', from reign of James III

This is the obverse of a silver 'penny' minted at Edinburgh between 1475 and 1484, during the reign of James III. Although called a penny, because of the rising price of silver the coin was worth three pence Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned bust. 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:	000-100-054-689-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.C4238
Date:	1475 - 1484 Between 1475 and 1484
Material:	Silver; very irregular flan; flan crack at 5.0 (obverse); moderate wear; some flattening. Inscription: Obv. Cross IACOB [ ] GRA [ ] REX . SO; stop is saltire - possibly lower part of double; crowned bust facing / Rev. [ ] / LA . E / DEIn / BOVR; st
Dimensions:	14.50 x 15.00 mm D / Die Axis: 7.0
What:	Coin Type: Stewart III Coin, penny
Subject:	Queen Street Coin Collection
Who:	James III Sheriff Mackenzie Collection
Where:	Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
Event:
Description:	James III silver penny, Edinburgh, 1475 - 1484
References:	'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967
Translations:
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