Coin (obverse), testoon, from reign of Mary, Queen of Scots

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This is the obverse of a silver testoon minted at Edinburgh in 1556, during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. The coin was worth five shillings Scots.

The obverse bears a crowned shield flanked by the letters 'M' and 'R'. The crown is small and high-arched and there are annulets beneath the 'M' and 'R'. The Latin inscription translates as: 'Mary, by the Grace of God, Queen of Scots'.

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: 000-190-000-619-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C3948
• Date: 1556
  
• Material: Silver; reverse slightly off-centre; slight to moderate wear; slight flattening . Inscription: Obv. Cross MARIA . DEI . G . SCOTOR . REGINA . 1556; crowned shield flanked by M R (small high-arched crown ); annulets beneath M and R / Rev. Cross IN . VIRTVT
  Coin Type: 1st period, type III a
  Coin, testoon
  
• Dimensions: 27.00 x 26.50 mm D / Die Axis: 7.0
  
• What: Coin Type: 1st period, type III a
  Coin, testoon
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Mary, Queen of Scots
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Mary, Queen of Scots silver testoon, Edinburgh, 1556
  
• References:
  • 'Currency' multimedia programme NMS 1995 
  • Stewart, I.H. 'The Scottish Coinage'. Second Edition. London: Spink & Son, 1967 
• Translations:
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