Add to albumThis is the obverse of a silver half-testoon minted at Edinburgh in 1560, in the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her marriage to Francis, the French dauphin. The coin was worth two shillings and six pence Scots.
The obverse bears a crowned shield of Scotland and France, with a cross to the left and a saltire to the right. The Latin inscription translates as 'Francis and Mary, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of the French and the Scots'.
Mary's coinage is divisible into five phases, reflecting her early life, two marriages and two widowhoods. During her reign numerous issues appeared in gold, silver and base metal, many of them comprising denominations never previously struck.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-190-000-011-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland A.1911.506.1157
- Date: 1560
- Material: Silver; slightly under-sized flan; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv.: Cross FRAN . ET . MA . D . G . R . R . FRANCO . SCOTOR Q (?); R of FRANCO punched over a C; crowned shield of arms of France and Scotland; cross to left; saltire to right. Rev.: Cross V
Coin Type: Second issue, second variety
Coin, half-testoon
- Dimensions: Diameter 24.00 mm; weight 2.97 g; die axis 7.5
- What: Coin Type: Second issue, second variety
Coin, half-testoon
- Subject: Coins and currency
- Who: Francis II (King of France)
Mary, Queen of Scots (Queen)
- Where: Scotland
Scotland, Edinburgh
- Event:
- Description: Mary and Francis silver half testoon, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh, 1560
- References:
- 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995
- Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967
- Translations:
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