Coin (obverse), half-bawbee, from reign of James V

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This is the obverse of a billon half-bawbee minted at Edinburgh between 1539 and 1542, during the reign of James V. The coin was worth three pence Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned thistle with 'I' (for Iacobus [James]) to the left and '5' to the right. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James, by the Grace of God, King of Scots'.

The name 'bawbee' is derived from 'Sillebawby' - Alexander Orrok of Sillebawby was Master of the Mint when these coins were struck.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-082-637-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.1995.127
• Date: 1539 - 1542
  Between 1539 and 1542
  
• Material: Billon; reverse slightly off-centre; slight wear. Inscription: Obv. Cros IACOBVS . D . G . R . SCOTORVM; crowned thistle; I to left; 5 to right; no interior of crown or side-hooks; no annulet in field / Rev. Star OPPIDVM . EDINBVBGI (sic); saltire with cr
  Coin Type: Stewart 1c
  Coin, half bawbee
  
• Dimensions: 18.50 x 18.00 mm D / Die Axis: 3.5
  
• What: Coin Type: Stewart 1c
  Coin, half bawbee
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James V
  
• Where: Scotland, Fife, St Monan's (NO 521 017)
  Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Billon half-bawbee of James V, 1539-42
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: