Coin (reverse), half-unit or double crown, from reign of Charles I

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This is the reverse of a gold half-unit minted at Edinburgh between 1638 and 1642, during the reign of Charles I. The coin was worth £6 Scots or 10 shillings English.

The reverse has a crowned shield of arms between the crowned letters 'CR' (for Carolus Rex [King Charles]). Both letters have a lozenge below. The Latin inscription translates as: 'These united we guard'.

During Charles's reign the mill and screw coin press was introduced to Scotland by a Frenchman, Nicolas Briot, who was Master of the Mint for a time. The press lent Charles's coins a level of technical excellence previously unknown.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-511-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C227
• Date: 1638 - 1641
  Between 1638 and 1642
  
• Material: Gold; slightly bent, obverse struck from worn die, scratch on reverse; slight wear. Inscription: Obv. CAR . D : G . MAG . BRIT . FR . ET . HIB . REX .; crowned bust to left; small sideways F after legend / Rev. . VNITA . TVEMVR .; crowned shield of arms;
  Coin Type: 3rd coinage, Falconer's issue
  Coin, half unit
  
• Dimensions: 26.00 x 25.00 mm D / Die Axis: 6.0
  
• What: Coin Type: 3rd coinage, Falconer's issue
  Coin, half unit
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Charles I
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Charles I gold half-unit, Edinburgh, 1638 - 1649
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Richardson (1901), 104 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: