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

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This is the obverse of a gold one-third ducat minted at Edinburgh in 1540, during the reign of James V. The coin was worth 13 shillings and four pence 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 a pellet behind the head. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James V, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'. This inscription is followed by the date, 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: 000-100-084-275-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1911.506.1123
• Date: 1540
  
• Material: Gold; slight wear. Inscription: Obv.: Lis IACOBVS . D . G . R . SCOTOR . 1540; pellet stops; bust to right, wearing bonnet; pellet behind head. Rev.: Cross HONO . REGIS . IVDICIV . DILIGIT; second O small, with pellet stop below; other stops also pellets
  Coin Type: cf Burns 1, fig 756
  Coin, one-third ducat / one-third bonnet piece
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 15.50 x 15.00 mm; weight 1.88 g; die axis 6.5
  
• What: Coin Type: cf Burns 1, fig 756
  Coin, one-third ducat / one-third bonnet piece
  
• Subject: Coins and currency
  
• Who: Addington collection
  James V (KIng)
  Murdoch collection (1903 sale, lot 184)
  Wingate collection
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James V gold one third ducat / one third 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:
• Related Records: