Record

Coin (obverse), testoon, from reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

< 1 of 1 > Back
Postcard of Coin (obverse), testoon, from reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.
000-190-000-627-C
© National Museums Scotland

Coin (obverse), testoon, from reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

This is the obverse of a silver testoon minted at Edinburgh in 1559, in the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her marriage to Francis, the French dauphin. The coin was worth five shillings Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned shield of the Dauphin and Scotland superimposed on a cross potent. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Francis and Mary, King and Queen of Scots and Dauphin and Dauphine of Vien'.

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

To search on related items, click any linked text below.

Online ID: 000-190-000-627-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C4031
Date: 1559
Material: Silver; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Crown FRAN . ET . MA . DEI . G . R . R . SCOTO . D . D . VIEN; crowned shield of Dauphin + Scotland on cross potent / Rev. Cross F . ECIT . VTRAQVE . VNVM . 1559 .; crowned FM monogram; cross of Lorraine on either
Dimensions: 29.50 x 29.00 mm D / Die Axis: 12.5
What: Coin Type: 1st issue
Coin, testoon
Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
Who: Francis, Dauphin of France
Mary, Queen of Scots
Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
Event:
Description: Mary and Francis silver testoon, Edinburgh, 1559
References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
Translations:
Related Records:
< 1 of 1 > Back
 
Powered by Scran