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

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This is the reverse 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 reverse has a saltire flanked by two smaller saltires. The blundered Latin inscription translates as: 'Town of Edinburgh'.

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: 000-190-000-306-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: 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
  Coin Type: 1st issue
  Coin, farthing / counterfeit
  
• 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 
• Translations:
• Related Records: