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

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This is the obverse of a silver half-testoon minted at Edinburgh in 1556, during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. The coin was worth two shillings and six pence Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned shield flanked by the letters 'M' and 'R'. The crown is small and high-arched. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Mary, by the Grace of God, Queen of Scots'. This inscription is followed by the date, 1556.

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

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• Online ID: 000-100-054-440-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C3988
• Date: 1556
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: Obv. MARIA DEI G SCOTOR REGINA 1556; crowned shield flanked by M R (small high-arched crown ) / Rev. Cross IN . VIRTVTE . TVA . LIBERA . ME 1556; 6 overlaps initial cross; cross potent with small cross in each angle; small crosses pla
  Coin Type: 1st period, type III
  Coin, half testoon
  
• Dimensions: 22.50 mm D
  
• What: Coin Type: 1st period, type III
  Coin, half testoon
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Mary, Queen of Scots
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Mary, Queen of Scots silver half-testoon, Edinburgh, 1556
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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