From Aberlady, East Lothian

Coin (obverse), farthing, from reign of James III

This is the obverse of a farthing minted at Edinburgh in 1465 or 1466, during the reign of James III. The coin, which is perhaps a counterfeit, was made of copper and was worth a quarter of a penny Scots. It was found at Aberlady in East Lothian.

The obverse bears a crown. The Latin inscription translates as: '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:	000-100-082-648-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.1993.638
Date:	1465 - 1466 1465-6
Material:	Copper; reverse slightly off-centre and slightly double-struck; slight flattening; slight wear. Inscription: Obv. ? Crown (?)REX . SCOCO . RV [ ]; 2nd stop is a saltire, 1st of uncertain form; crown / Rev. Crown VILL (?) EADILRV [ ] G; saltire flanked by
Dimensions:	14.00 x 13.50 mm D / Die Axis: 2.0
What:	Coin Type: 1st issue Coin, farthing / counterfeit
Subject:	Queen Street Coin Collection
Who:	James III
Where:	Scotland Scotland, East Lothian, Aberlady, The Glebe Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
Event:
Description:	Copper farthing (? counterfeit) of James III, 1465 - 1466
References:	'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967
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