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

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This is the reverse of a silver half-testoon minted at Edinburgh in 1560, in the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her marriage to Francis, the French dauphin. The coin was worth two shillings and six pence Scots.

The reverse has a crowned 'FM' monogram (for Francis and Mary) with a fleur-de-lys to the left and a crowned thistle to the right. The Latin inscription translates as: 'The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed' (from the Book of Revelations).

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: 000-100-084-323-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1911.506.1157
• Date: 1560
  
• Material: Silver; slightly under-sized flan; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv.: Cross FRAN . ET . MA . D . G . R . R . FRANCO . SCOTOR Q (?); R of FRANCO punched over a C; crowned shield of arms of France and Scotland; cross to left; saltire to right. Rev.: Cross V
  Coin Type: Second issue, second variety
  Coin, half-testoon
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 24.00 mm; weight 2.97 g; die axis 7.5
  
• What: Coin Type: Second issue, second variety
  Coin, half-testoon
  
• Subject: Coins and currency
  
• Who: Francis II (King of France)
  Mary, Queen of Scots (Queen)
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Mary and Francis silver half testoon, Scotland, minted in Edinburgh, 1560
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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