Coin (obverse), ducat or bonnet piece, from reign of James V

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This is the obverse of a gold ducat minted at Edinburgh in 1540, during the reign of James V. The coin was worth 40 shillings Scots. James's ducat was the first Scottish gold coin to bear a portrait.

The obverse bears a portrait of the king wearing a bonnet. There is an annulet on the inner circle behind the head. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James V, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'. The coin is dated 1540.

James V's reign saw the introduction of two new gold coins - the crown and the ducat. A new billon coin called the bawbee also appeared for the first time.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-084-273-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1911.506.1121
• Date: 1540
  
• Material: Gold; slight wear. Inscription: Obv.: Saltire IACOBVS . 5 . DEI . G . R . SCOTOR . 1 . 5 . 40; pellet stops; bust to right, wearing bonnet. Rev.: Cross HONOR . REGIS . IVDICIVM . DILIGIT; pellet stops, with die flaw by first; crowned shield of arms super
  Coin Type: cf Burns 4, fig 754
  Coin, ducat / bonnet piece
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 22.00 x 23.00 mm; weight 5.62 g; die axis 5.5
  
• What: Coin Type: cf Burns 4, fig 754
  Coin, ducat / bonnet piece
  
• Subject: Coins and currency
  
• Who: James V (King)
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James V gold ducat / bonnet piece, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh 1540
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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