Coin (Obverse), Half-Plack, from Reign Of James III

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This is the obverse of a billon half-plack minted at Edinburgh between 1465 and 1482, during the reign of James III. The coin was worth two pence Scots. It was part of a hoard found at Perth in 1920.

The obverse bears a crowned shield with a cross fourchee on each side, in a three-arc tressure. There are trefoils in the spandrel. 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.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-053-092-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C2640
• Date: 1465 - 1482
  Between 1465 and 1482
  
• Material: Billon; part of edge ragged; fairly worn. Inscription: Obv. Cross IACOBVS . DEI . GRA : REX . SCOTTORV'; stops are single and double saltires; crowned shield with a cross fourchee on each side, in three-arc tressure; trefoils in spandrels / Rev. Cross VIL
  Coin Type: 1st issue
  Coin, half plack
  
• Dimensions: 21.50 x 21.00 mm D / Die Axis: 10.0
  
• What: Coin Type: 1st issue
  Coin, half plack
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James III
  Perth Hoard, 1920
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  Scotland, Perthshire, Perth
  
• Event:
• Description: James III billon half-plack, Edinburgh, 1465 - 1482
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: