Coin (obverse), half-groat, from reign of James III

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This is the obverse of a silver half-groat minted at Edinburgh between 1482 and 1484, during the reign of James III. The coin was worth six pence Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned bust in a seven-arc tressure. 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: 000-190-000-532-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C2555
• Date: 1482 - 1484
  Between 1482 and 1484
  
• Material: Silver; slightly off-centre (obverse), parts of edge ragged; fairly worn. Inscription: Obv. Cross IACOBVS DEI GRA REX SCOTORm; crowned bust facing in seven-arc tressure / Rev. Cross DnSPT / ECTORm / SZLIBEA / TVRmS : VILL / AEDE / nBEO / VRGE; Z is revers
  Coin Type: Stewart IV
  Coin, half groat
  
• Dimensions: 19.00 x 18.00 mm D / Die Axis: 9.0
  
• What: Coin Type: Stewart IV
  Coin, half groat
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James III
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James III silver half-groat, Edinburgh, 1482 - 1484
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Richardson (1901), 29 ? 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: