Gold coin (obverse) showing a crowned portrait of King James IV

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This is the obverse of a gold double crown minted at Edinburgh between 1609 and 1625, during the reign of James VI & I. The coin was worth £6 Scots or ten shillings English.

The obverse bears a crowned portrait of the king. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland'.

The coins of James VI's reign are considered to have the most beautiful designs and most varied legends of all Scottish coins. After the Union of the Crowns of 1603, Scottish gold and silver coins closely resembled their English counterparts.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-084-416-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1911.506.1188
• Date: 1609 - 1625
  Between 1609 and 1625
  
• Material: Gold; slight flattening and double-striking; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv.: Thistle-head . IA'. D . G . MAG . BRIT . FRAN . ET . HIB. REX .; crowned bust to right. Rev.: Thistle-head HENRICVS . ROSAS . REGN . IACOBVS; crowned shield of arms; Scotti
  Coin Type: Second post-Union coinage
  Coin, double crown
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 29.00 x 30.00 mm; weight 4.91 g; die axis 7.5
  
• What: Coin Type: Second post-Union coinage
  Coin, double crown
  
• Subject: Coins and currency
  
• Who: James VI (King)
  Pollexfen collection (1900 sale, lot 402)
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James VI gold double crown, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh, 1609-1625
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, Ian Halley. The Scottish coinage: with supplement. London: Spink & Son, 1967
• Translations:
• Related Records: