Coin (obverse), groat, from reign of James IV

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This is the obverse of a silver groat minted at Edinburgh between 1489 and 1496, during the reign of James IV. The coin was worth 12 pence Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned, unclothed bust in a twelve-arc tressure with trefoils on some cusps. The Latin inscription translates as: 'James, by the Grace of God'.

James IV's coins were mainly continuations of the types issued during the previous reign. Those stylistic changes that did occur were largely backward-looking. No attempt was made to follow James III's example of using a realistic portrait.

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-543-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C2988
• Date: 1489 - 1496
  Between 1489 and 1496
  
• Material: Silver; slightly bent; moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Cross IACOBVS : Q : DI : GRA : REX : SCOTOR; stops are double annulets; Q represents old Arabic 4; crowned, unclothed bust facing in twelve-arc tressure with trefoils on some cusps / Rev. Cross DnSP
  Coin Type: Heavy coinage, Stewart Ib, Murray B
  Coin, groat
  
• Dimensions: 25.50 mm D / Die Axis: 12.0
  
• What: Coin Type: Heavy coinage, Stewart Ib, Murray B
  Coin, groat
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James IV
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James IV silver groat, Edinburgh, 1489 - 1495
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: