Add to albumThis is the obverse of a gold unicorn minted at Edinburgh between 1513 and 1526, during the reign of James V. The coin was worth 23 shillings Scots.
The obverse bears a unicorn holding a shield of arms. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'.
James V's reign saw the introduction of two new gold coins - the crown and the ducat. The latter was the first Scottish gold coin to bear a portrait. A new billon coin called the bawbee also appeared for the first time.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-100-050-599-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland H.C147
- Date: 1513 - 1526
Between 1513 and 1526
- Material: Gold; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv. Crown IACOBVS . DEI : GRA . REX . SCOTORV M : : :; stops are trefoil, double pellet, two pellets, double pellet, double trefoil, double pellet; saltire and grass at base; unicorn to left, supporting shield of arms
Coin Type: Stewart II
Coin, unicorn
- Dimensions: 27.00 x 26.00 mm D
- What: Coin Type: Stewart II
Coin, unicorn
- Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
- Who: James V
- Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
- Event:
- Description: James V gold unicorn, Edinburgh, 1513 - 1526
- References:
- 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995
- Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967
- Translations:
- Related Records: