Coin (reverse), sword and sceptre piece, from reign of James VI

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This is the reverse of a gold sword and sceptre piece minted at Edinburgh in 1603, during the reign of James VI. The coin was worth 120 shillings Scots.

The reverse has a crossed sword and sceptre with a crown above and thistles at the sides. The Latin inscription translates as: 'The safety of the people is the supreme law'. The date is followed by the inscription, 1603.

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: 000-190-000-500-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C206
• Date: 1603
  
• Material: Gold; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv. Quatrefoil with central pellet . IACOBVS . 6 . D . G . R . SCOTORUM . .; crowned shield of arms / Rev. Quatrefoil with central pellet . SALVS . POPVLI . SVPREMA . LEX .; sceptre and sword arranged in saltire; crow
  Coin Type: 8th coinage
  Coin, sword and sceptre piece
  
• Dimensions: 29.00 x 28.00 mm D
  
• What: Coin Type: 8th coinage
  Coin, sword and sceptre piece
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James VI
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James VI gold sword and sceptre piece, Edinburgh, 1603
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Richardson (1901), 106 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: