Coin (obverse), plack, from reign of James III

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This is the reverse of a billon plack minted at Edinburgh between 1465 and 1482, during the reign of James III. The coin was worth four pence Scots. It was part of a hoard found at Rhoneston in Dumfriesshire in 1961.

The reverse has a floreate cross fourchee with a saltire fourchee in the central panel and a crown in each angle. The 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: 000-190-000-535-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C2634
• Date: 1465 - 1482
  Between 1465 and 1482
  
• Material: Billon; rather weakly struck; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Cross IACOBVS . DEI . GRA . REX . SCOTORVm; stops are pellets, some may be double pellets; crowned shield with a cross fourchee on each side, in three-arc tressure; trefoils in spandrels / Rev
  Coin Type: 1st issue
  Coin, plack
  
• Dimensions: 25.50 x 25.00 mm D / Die Axis: 6.0
  
• What: Coin Type: 1st issue
  Coin, plack
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James III
  Rhoneston Hoard, 1961
  
• Where: Scotland, Dumfriesshire, Rhoneston Bridge / Rhoneston Burn Farm
  Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James III billon plack, Edinburgh, 1465 - 1482
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • BNJ (1965), p 114, pl XIV no 29 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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