Coin (Obverse), half-rider, from reign of James III

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This is the obverse of a gold half-rider minted in Edinburgh between 1475 and 1484, during the reign of James III. The coin was worth 11 shillings and six pence Scots.

The obverse bears an image of the king in armour riding a galloping horse. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'.

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.

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• Online ID: 000-100-050-544-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C92
• Date: 1475 - 1484
  Between 1475 and 1484
  
• Material: Gold; fairly worn. Inscription: Obv. IACOBVS / DEI : GRA / REX . SC / OTORVM; stops are double pellet, pellet; crowned shield of arms superimposed on long cross; single tressure fleurie on shield / Rev. Cross SALWM : FAC : POPVLVM : TWM : DOMINE; stops ar
  Coin, half rider
  
• Dimensions: 19.00 x 20.00 mm D / Die Axis: 1.0
  
• What: Coin, half rider
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James III
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James III gold half-rider, Edinburgh, 1475 - 1484
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' [multimedia CD-ROM] Edinburgh: NMS, 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: