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

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This is the reverse of a silver groat minted at Edinburgh between 1489 and 1496, during the reign of James IV. The coin was worth 14 pence Scots.

The reverse has a single long cross with a crown in the 1st quarter, a fleur-de-lys in the 3rd, and an annulet between three pellets in the 2nd and 4th. The Latin inscription translates as: 'God is my Defender and my Redeemer. Town of Edinburgh.'

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.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-545-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C2995
• Date: 1489 - 1496
  Between 1489 and 1496
  
• Material: Silver; slight to moderate wear. Inscription: Obv. Cross IACOBVS : DEI : GRACEA : REX : SCOT :; stops are double six-pointed stars; crowned, unclothed bust facing in 9 . 1-arc tressure / Rev. Cross DnS : P / TECTO : / mEVS : E / T : LEB m : cross VIL / LA
  Coin Type: Heavy coinage, Stewart Vc (James III), Murray C
  Coin, groat
  
• Dimensions: 25.50 x 26.00 mm D / Die Axis: 4.0
  
• What: Coin Type: Heavy coinage, Stewart Vc (James III), Murray C
  Coin, groat
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: James IV
  Pollexfen Collection (annotation in NMAS copy of Richardson)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: James IV silver groat, Edinburgh, 1489 - 1495
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Richardson (1901), Add 168 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
• Related Records: