This is the reverse of a silver 20 pence piece minted at Edinburgh in 1636, during the reign of Charles I.
The reverse has a crowned thistle. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Justice strengthens the throne'.
During Charles's reign the mill and screw coin press was introduced to Scotland by a Frenchman, Nicolas Briot, who was Master of the Mint for a time. The press lent Charles's coins a level of technical excellence previously unknown.
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