Add to albumThis is the obverse of a gold half-unicorn minted at Edinburgh between 1513 and 1526, during the reign of James V. The coin was worth 11 shillings and six pence 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: 000-100-050-601-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland H.C149
- Date: 1513 - 1526
Between 1513 and 1526
- Material: Gold; struck from worn or partially blocked die; slight wear. Inscription: Obv. Crown . IACOBVS DEI : GRACIA . REX . SCOTOR VM : . :; stops are pellet, double pellet, two pellets, double pellet, five-pointed star, double pellet; S's are both reversed; uni
Coin Type: As Stewart unicorn II
Coin, half unicorn
- Dimensions: 21.00 mm D / Die Axis: 1.5
- What: Coin Type: As Stewart unicorn II
Coin, half unicorn
- Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
- Who: James V
- Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
- Event:
- Description: James V gold half-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: