Mediaeval Scottish Coinage

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Introduction

This topic covers Scottish coinage issued during the mediaeval period.

It was over 100 years after the unification of Scotland before the first independent coinage, issued by David I, began to circulate in Scotland. In 1136 he took control of the city of Carlisle and the surrounding silver mines, and thus began to mint the first Scottish coins. As in early Saxon and Norman hammered coins of England, the obverse of the Scottish silver penny followed a similar 'short cross' style, although the cross itself was depicted in several different ways.

For the next two centuries, the continued use of a profile, as opposed to the facing portrait, was about all that distinguished Scottish coins from their English counterparts. Moreover, Scottish coins followed English weight standards, allowing the two coinages to circulate alongside one another.

David II of Scotland ended the parity between Scottish and English coins, resulting in an English proclamation banning the lower quality Scottish coins from their country in 1356. Robert III of Scotland continued to devalue Scottish coins, making them worth one-half of their English counterparts by 1392. He also replaced the profile bust on the obverse of Scottish coins with a facing head, which made his coins much easier to confuse with the more valuable English issues.

Examples of coins struck from David I and his son Henry, Earl of Northumberland, to James IV, who died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, are illustrated.

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List of associated kings:

House of Canmore

David I 1124-53 & Henry, Earl of Northumberland 1139-52

David was the youngest son of Malcolm III who was the Scottish king when William the Conqueror invaded Scotland in 1072 and forced Malcolm to accept the Peace of Abernethy and become his Vassal.

He has long been recognised as the crucial figure in the development of the mediaeval Scottish kingdom, its government structures and systems. With the collapse of royal authority in England ('reign of anarchy' under King Stephen), David took the opportunity to expand into northern England, in particular Cumbria and Northumberland, to which he had prior claims. After a succession of conflicts with Stephen, a treaty was signed that recognised David's claims to Northumberland. This earldom, shortly thereafter, was bestowed on his second son, Henry, the heir to the Scottish throne. Henry held this earldom until his death in 1152, pre-deceasing his father who died a year later, and so catapulting his son, Malcolm, to the throne of Scotland.

Malcolm IV (The Maiden) 1153-65

Son of Henry of Northumberland. His grandfather David I persuaded the Scottish Chiefs to recognise Malcolm as his heir to the throne, and aged 12 he became King. Throughout his reign the pious and frail Malcolm was consistently out-thought and outmanoeuvred by Henry II, who was crowned King of England in 1154, much to the dismay of many Scottish nobles. In 1149 Henry had promised David I he would uphold Scotland's claim to much of northern England, but in 1157 Malcolm surrendered Cumbria & Northumbria to Henry II.

William the Lion 1165-1214

Second son of Henry of Northumbria. After a failed attempt to invade Northumberland, William was captured by Henry II. In return for his release, William and other Scottish nobles had to swear allegiance to Henry and hand over sons as hostages. English garrisons were installed throughout Scotland. It was only in 1189 that William was able to recover Scottish independence in return for a payment of 10,000 marks. William's reign witnessed the extension of royal authority northwards across the Moray Firth. William was called the 'Lion' as he was the one who replaced the dragon on the arms of Scotland with the rampant lion.

Alexander II 1214-49

Son of William the Lion. With the Anglo-Scottish agreement of 1217, he established peace between the two Kingdoms that would last for 80 years. The agreement was further cemented by his marriage to Henry III's sister Joan in 1221. Renouncing his ancestral claim to Northumberland, the Anglo-Scottish Border was finally established by the Tweed-Solway Line.

Alexander III 1249-86

The son of Alexander II. Following the Battle of Largs against King Haakon of Norway in Oct. 1263, Alexander secured the Western Highlands & Islands for the Scottish Crown. After the deaths of his children, Alexander gained acceptance that his granddaughter Margaret should succeed him. He fell and was killed whilst riding along the cliffs of Kinghorn in Fife.

First Interregnum 1286–1292

Alexander III was pre-deceased by all his children, making the question of his succession one of pressing importance. He induced the Estates to recognise as his heir-presumptive his granddaughter, Margaret, the 'Maid of Norway,' who would ascend the throne under a regency of six nobles. It was intended that she would marry the future Edward II and unite England and Scotland. Sadly, she died in 1290 at the Orkneys, during her sea journey to Scotland from her native Norway. In the two years that followed, Scotland was left with many claimants to the throne. Edward I of England was asked to intercede and deal with the problem of the succession to the throne of the kingdom of Scotland. John Balliol, who was a descendent of David I, was 'chosen' as king, from twelve claimants, who agreed to abide by the arbitration of Edward I (Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots). But in reality, the real winner was Edward, Balliol was king but under very stringent conditions exercised by the Edward. There was now more interference from the English crown to the Scottish crown than had ever been before.

No coins were minted during this time.

House of Balliol

John Balliol 1292-1296

Following the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway in 1290, John Balliol was a claimant for the vacant Scottish crown. He was a great-great-great grandson of King David I through his mother, being senior in genealogical primogeniture but not in proximity of blood. He submitted his claim to the Scottish auditors in an election overseen by Edward I of England and was duly chosen as the next Scottish king.

Second Interregnum 1296–1306

Before he made John king, Edward I, King of England, forced John to recognise him as his superior. Edward expected John to be loyal to him. England was at war with France. Edward demanded that the Scots took his side against the French. The Scottish nobles were so angry at this that they made John stand up to Edward. In 1295, John signed a treaty of friendship and support with the King of France. The two countries promised to defend each other against England. The treaty became known as the 'Auld Alliance'. In response, Edward invaded Scotland, defeated John at the Battle of Dunbar and placed Scotland under the administration of English officials. Balliol was imprisoned in the Tower of London and eventually released into papal custody. Edward took the Stone of Destiny to England. This was the stone on which all Scottish kings were crowned. Without it the Scots could not make another king.

No coins were minted during this time.

Between the deposition of John Balliol in 1296 and the 1350s very little coinage appears to have been produced in Scotland. The loss of Berwick to the English in 1296 deprived the Scots of their principal mint and, during the Wars of Independence that followed, until the middle years of Robert Bruce (1306-29), there was insufficient control or security to sustain a Scottish coinage. The revival of Scottish coinage at this period seems likely to date from 1318, with the recovery of Berwick.

House of Bruce

Robert the Bruce 1306-1329

When the English king, Edward I, was asked to arbitrate during the first interregnum, he chose John Balliol to be king. Both Bruce and his father refused to back Balliol and supported Edward I's invasion of Scotland in 1296 to force Balliol to abdicate. Edward then ruled Scotland as a province of England.

Bruce then supported William Wallace's uprising against the English. After Wallace was defeated, Bruce's lands were not confiscated and in 1298, Bruce became a guardian of Scotland, with John Comyn, Balliol's nephew and Bruce's greatest rival for the Scottish throne. In 1306, Bruce quarrelled with Comyn and stabbed him in a church in Dumfries. He was outlawed by Edward and excommunicated by the pope. Bruce now proclaimed his right to the throne and on 27 March was crowned king at Scone. The following year, Bruce was deposed by Edward's army and forced to flee.

Returning to Scotland, Robert waged a highly successful guerrilla war against the English. At the Battle of Bannockburn in June 1314, he defeated a much larger English army under Edward II, confirming the re-establishment of an independent Scottish monarchy. Even after Bannockburn and the Scottish capture of Berwick in 1318, Edward II refused to give up his claim to the overlordship of Scotland. In 1320, the Scottish earls, barons and the 'community of the realm' sent a letter to Pope John XXII declaring that Robert was their rightful monarch. This was the 'Declaration of Arbroath' and it asserted the antiquity of the Scottish people and their monarchy.

Four years later, Robert received papal recognition as king of an independent Scotland. The Franco-Scottish alliance was renewed in the Treaty of Corbeil, by which the Scots were obliged to make war on England should hostilities break out between England and France. In 1327, the English deposed Edward II in favour of his son and peace was made with Scotland. This included a total renunciation of all English claims to superiority over Scotland.

David II 1329-1371

The only surviving legitimate son of Robert Bruce, he succeeded his father when only 5 years of age. He was the first Scottish king to be crowned and anointed. Whether he would be able to keep the crown was another matter, faced with the combined hostilities of John Balliol and the 'Disinherited', those Scottish landowners that Robert Bruce had disinherited following his victory at Bannockburn. David was for a while even sent to France for his own safe keeping. In support of his allegiance with France he invaded England in 1346, whilst Edward III was otherwise occupied with the siege of Calais. His army was intercepted by forces raised by the Archbishop of York. David was wounded and captured. He was later released after agreeing to pay a ransom of 100,000 marks. David died unexpectedly and without an heir, while trying to divorce his second wife in order to marry his latest mistress.

House of Stewart

Robert II 1371-1390

The son of the daughter of Robert Bruce, he was recognised the heir presumptive in 1318, but the birth of David II meant that he had to wait 50 years before he could become the first Stewart king at the age of 55. A poor and ineffective ruler with little interest in soldiering, he delegated responsibility for law and order to his sons.

Robert III 1390-1406

Upon succeeding to the throne he decided to take the name Robert rather than his given name John. As King, Robert III appears to have been as ineffective as his father Robert II. In 1406 he decided to send his eldest surviving son to France; the boy was captured by the English and imprisoned in the Tower. Robert died the following month and, according to one source, asked to be buried in a midden (dunghill) as 'the worst of kings and most wretched of men'.

James I 1406-1437

After falling into English hands on his way to France in 1406, James was held a captive until 1424. Apparently, his uncle, who also just happened to be Scotland's governor, did little to negotiate his release. He was eventually released after agreeing to pay a ransom of 50,000 marks. On his return to Scotland, he spent much of his time raising the money to pay off his ransom by imposing taxes, confiscating estates from nobles and clan chiefs. Needless to say, such actions made him few friends; a group of conspirators broke into his bedchamber and murdered him.

James II 1437-1460

Although king since the murder of his father James I when he was 7, it was following his marriage to Mary of Guelders that he actually assumed control. An aggressive and warlike king, he appears to have taken particular exception to the Livingstons and Black Douglases. Fascinated by those new-fangled firearms, he was blown up and killed by one of his own siege guns whilst besieging Roxburgh.

James III 1460-1488

At the tender age of 8, he was proclaimed king following the death of his father James II. Six years later he was kidnapped; upon his return to power, he proclaimed his abductors, the Boyds, traitors. His attempt to make peace with the English by marrying his sister off to an English noble was somewhat scuppered when she was found to be already pregnant. He was killed at the Battle of Sauchieburn in Stirlingshire on 11 Jun 1488.

James IV 1488-1513

The son of James III and Margaret of Denmark, he had grown up in the care of his mother at Stirling Castle. For his part in his father's murder by the Scottish nobility at the Battle of Sauchieburn, he wore an iron belt next to skin as penitence for the rest of his life. To protect his borders, he spent lavish sums on artillery and his navy. James led expeditions into the Highlands to assert royal authority and developed Edinburgh as his royal capital. He sought peace with England by marrying Henry VII's daughter Margaret Tudor in 1503, an act that would ultimately unite the two kingdoms a century later. His immediate relationship with his brother-in-law deteriorated however when James invaded Northumberland. James was defeated and killed at Flodden, along with most of the leaders of Scottish society.

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David I 1124-53

Coins had been struck in Carlisle in the last years of Henry I's reign, using local silver, and once David took over the town, he began issuing his own coins. David's coins imitate the late coins of Henry I, initially in the name of Stephen. The style and standard of manufacture of these coins was exceedingly crude, but probably no worse than contemporary issues in England, upon which they were vaguely modelled.




1136-45 silver penny with an obverse inscription + STEFINE REX around a crowned bust facing right with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front, minted in the name of King Stephen of England. On the reverse + EREBALD:ON:CARD (Erebald, moneyer, Carlisle mint) around a cross fleury with fleur-de-lis in each quarter.




1146-53 silver penny with an obverse inscription +D[AVIT R]E:X (King David) around a diademed bust facing right with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front and, on the reverse, + FOLA[LT ON BE]R (Folpalt, moneyer, Berwick-upon-Tweed mint) around a cross fleury with a pellet in each quarter.

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Henry, Earl of Northumberland 1139-52

During the civil war in England between Stephen and his cousin Matilda, both Stephen and Matilda granted the right to issue coins to a number of nobles in return for their support. One of these was Henry, Earl of Northumberland, son of David I.

Henry's earldom had the benefit of its mints at Carlisle, Corbridge and Bamborough. This resulted in a coinage of pennies being struck in Henry's name which closely followed the design pattern of English mediaeval pennies. The coinage of Prince Henry, albeit technically English as it was issued in an Earldom regarded as English and for which Prince Henry offered fealty to King Stephen of England is classified as a Scottish issue because Henry was the son and heir of King David I of Scotland had he succeeded his father, he would have issued a Scottish coinage.




1139-45 silver penny with an obverse inscription surrounded by beaded border + hENRICVS •[F RE?] (Henry, Count) around a crowned bust facing right with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within inner circle and, on the reverse, + EREBALD:ON [C]OREB: (H)erebald, moneyer, Corbridge mint) around a cross fleury with fleur-de-lis in each quarter within tressure.




1145-52 silver penny with an obverse inscription + NEИCI CON (Henry, Count) around a crowned bust facing right with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within inner circle and, on the reverse, WIL:EL:OИ:CAR (Wilelm, moneyer, Carlisle mint) around a cross fleury within beaded inner circle.

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Malcolm IV (The Maiden) 1153-65

The silver pennies of Malcolm IV are extremely rare. Those of David I continued to be minted during his reign.
The illustrations are not matching and are from different pennies in the National Museums of Scotland.




Obverse image of a silver penny with the inscription MALCOLM : REX (King Malcolm) around a crowned bust facing between two sceptres within a beaded inner circle and with sceptre., on the reverse. (The reverse inscription noted as HVGO : ON ROCABVRG (Hugo, moneyer, Roxburgh) around a cross fleury on lozenge fleury.)




Reverse image of a silver penny with indecipherable inscription. Design is a cross fleury with large pellet in each quarter.

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William the Lion 1165-1214



First issue silver penny with an obverse inscription + W[...] REX around a crowned bust facing right with sceptre in front within a beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, FOLPO[L]D O[N] R (Folwold, moneyer, Roxburgh mint) around a cross pattée within beaded inner circle with a fleur-de-lis in each quarter.

Very few coins seem to have been struck between the death of David I in 1153 and the introduction of the crescent and pellet coinage around 1180.




Second issue 1180-95 silver penny with an obverse inscription +L[Є RЄ]I WILLAm Є (King William) around a crowned bust facing left within a beaded inner circle and with sceptre with cross-pommée in front and, on the reverse, +[R]AVL ON ROCAS (Raul, moneyer, Roxburgh mint) around a cross pattée within beaded inner circle with pellet-in-crescent above pellet in each quarter.




Third issue silver pennies commenced 1195 with a short cross and stars design. The illustration is a posthumous issue under Alexander II with no mint identified. Which coins were being issued at the time of William's death is somewhat uncertain, but it is likely to have been the end of the long series in the names of the moneyers Hue, Walter, and Henri le Rus, having no mint signature. It is thought such issues continued to 1230.

The obverse inscription surrounded by a beaded border is +LE REI WIL A (King William) around a crowned bust facing left with sceptre in front within inner circle and, on the reverse, +hVE: WALTER (Hue & Walter, Edinburgh & Perth moneyers) around a short voided central cross fleury within a beaded inner circle and with a six-pointed star in each quarter.

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Alexander II 1214-49

He struck one issue in the name of his father (William the Lion) then very few in his own name during his reign from 1235.




1230-35 silver penny in the name of William I. The obverse inscription is +WILLELMVS.REX (King William) around a crowned bust facing right with a trefoil-tipped sceptre in front within inner circle and, on the reverse, PERI ADAM ON RO (Peris & Adam, moneyers, Roxburgh mint) around a short voided central cross within a beaded inner circle and with a six-pointed star in each quarter.



1240-50 silver penny with an obverse inscription + AL EXSANDERREX (King Alexander) around a crowned bust facing right with a trefoil-tipped sceptre in front within inner circle and, on the reverse, + AИDRV : RICAR . ADAMOИRO ('Andrew, Ricard & Adam, moneyers, Roxburgh mint) around a short voided central cross within an inner circle and with a six-pointed star in each quarter.

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Alexander III 1249-86



1250-80 silver penny with an obverse inscription +ALEXANDER REX (King Alexander) around a crowned bust facing left with a trefoil-tipped sceptre in front, that extends to inscription, within inner beaded circle and, on the reverse within a beaded circle, IOh AN ON BER (Johan, moneyer, Berwick mint) in the angles of a voided long cross with central pellet; with a six-pointed star in each quarter within a beaded inner circle.


A new (second) coinage of Alexander III from 1280-86, which coincided with similar reforms by Edward I in England, was a great improvement. These replaced the moneyer's name used on the earlier coins with a system of denoting the place of mintage by the number of points (between 20 and 28) on the mullets (spurs / stars) in the reverse design, e.g., Edinburgh had 20 points, Aberdeen 23, while Perth had 26.
He also introduced halfpennies and farthings into the Scottish currency during this latter period of his reign. They followed the penny design, but were smaller. Pennies were around 18/19 mm dia, whereas the halfpennies were 15mm and the farthings 12mm.





1280-86 silver penny with an obverse inscription +ALEXANDER DEI GRA (Alexander, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a trefoil-tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, REX SCO TOR VM+ (King of the Scottish) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with two pierced mullets, three mullets of six points and one mullet of seven points in quarters (25 total) indicating Roxburgh mint.




1280-86 silver penny with an obverse inscription +ALEXAND.ER DEI GRA (Alexander, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, REX SCO TOR VM+ (King of the Scottish) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with four pierced mullets each with six points (24 total) indicating Berwick mint.




1280-86 silver penny with an obverse inscription +ALEXAND.ER DEI GRA (Alexander, by the grace of God) with pellet between D and E, around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, REX SCO TOR VM+ (King of the Scottish) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with four pierced mullets each with five points (20 total) indicating Edinburgh mint, and with an extra pellet in the first and two in the third quarters.




1280-86 silver farthing with an obverse inscription +ALEXANDER REX (King Alexander) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, SC OT OR VM (King of the Scottish) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with four pierced mullets each with six points (24 total) indicating Berwick mint.

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John Balliol 1292-1296



First issue silver penny with an obverse inscription + IOHANNES DEI GRA (John, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, CIVITAS SANDREE (City of St Andrews) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with four pierced mullets, three mullets of six points and one mullet of five points in quarters (23 total) indicating Aberdeen mint. Possibly St Andrews is a reference to when he was inaugurated at Scone, 30 Nov 1292, St. Andrew's Day.




Second issue silver penny with an obverse inscription + IOHANNES DEI GRA (John, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a trefoil-tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, REX SCO TOR VM+ (King of the Scottish) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with four pierced mullets each with five points (20 total) indicating Edinburgh mint.


John also minted first issue halfpennies and second issue halfpennies and farthings. All having designs aligning with their respective penny issues.

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Robert the Bruce 1306-1329

Even though he was crowned in 1306, it wasn't until the 'Declaration of Arbroath' in 1320 that Robert was confirmed as the rightful monarch of the Scottish people.




1320-29 silver penny with an obverse inscription +:ROBERTVS: DEI: GRA: (Robert, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, SCO TOR VMR EX+ (King of the Scottish) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with four pierced mullets each with five points.




1320-29 silver halfpenny with an obverse inscription +:ROBERTVS: DEI: GRA: (Robert, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, SCO TOR VMR EX+ (King of the Scottish) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with two opposing pierced mullets each with five points.


Examples of halfpennies exist as the penny design with four mullets; and also farthings, on a smaller scale again.

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David II 1329-1371

First coinage, first issue



1329-33 silver penny with an obverse inscription + DAVID DEI GRACIA (David, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, REX SCO TTO RVM (King of Scots) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with four pierced mullets each with six points in the quarters. Berwick mint.




1329-33 silver halfpenny with an obverse inscription + DAVID DEI GRACIA (David, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, + RE XSC OTO RVM (King of Scots) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with two opposing pierced mullets each with five points. Berwick mint.




1329-33 silver farthing with an obverse inscription + MONETA : REGIS: D (Money of the King, D[avid]) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, + AV IDS COT TOR (David of Scotland) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with a five point mullet in each quarter, three being pierced. Berwick mint.


First coinage, second issue

The 1351-57 coin issue was the subject of a proclamation by Edward III in 1356 which banned their circulation in England due to their deficient weight compared to the corresponding English issued at the time (the English pence was 18 grains). Following the loss of Berwick to the English in 1333 it is thought that these coins were minted in Edinburgh, which took up the mantle of being Scotland's principal mint and would remain so until the act of union in 1707.




1351-57 silver penny with an obverse inscription + DAVID DEI GRACIA (David, by the grace of God) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, REX SCO TTO RVM (King of Scots) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle; with four pierced mullets each with six points in the quarters. Edinburgh mint.

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David II 1329-1371

Second coinage

The second coinage introduced the groat and half-groat into Scottish currency.




1357-67 silver penny with an obverse inscription + DAVID REX SCOTORVM (David, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, VILL AED InBV RGh (Town of Edinburgh) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle with five-pointed mullet voided with cinquefoils in each angle; D added in first quarter.




1357-67 silver half-groat with an obverse inscription +DAVID+ DEI+ GRA+ REX+ SCOTORVm (David, by the grace of God, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within a double tressure of six arcs within beaded inner circle. On the reverse in the angles of a long cross pattée, +DnS PROT ECTOR mEVS (The Lord is my Protector) in outer circle, VILL AED InBV RGh (Town of Edinburgh) in inner circle, both circles beaded; with four pierced mullets each with five points in the inner quarters.




1357-67 silver groat with an obverse inscription + DAVID : DEI : GRA : REX : SCOTORVM (David, by the grace of God, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within a double tressure of six arcs within beaded inner circle. On the reverse in the angles of a long cross pattée, DnS:P TECTOR MS++LIB ATOR MS (God is my Defender and my Redeemer) in outer circle, VILL AED InBV RGh (Town of Edinburgh) in inner circle, both circles beaded; with four pierced mullets each with five points in the inner quarters.


Third (light) coinage

In 1367 economic pressures in Scotland forced another weight reduction in the Scottish coinage.




1367-71 silver groat with an obverse inscription + DAVID DEI GRA REX SCOTORVM (David, by the grace of God, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within a double tressure of six arcs within beaded inner circle. On the reverse in the angles of a long cross pattée, DnS:P TECTOR MS++LIB ATOR MS (God is my Defender and my Redeemer) in outer circle, VILL AED InBV RGh (Town of Edinburgh) in inner circle, both circles beaded; with four pierced mullets each with five points in the inner quarters.

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David II 1329-1371

Gold noble

Minted between 1357 and 1367, this coin was the first attempt by a Scottish monarch to introduce a gold coinage. It is based on the English noble of Edward III and was minted by David II after his return from captivity in England. The coin was likely minted in low numbers and remains an extreme rarity. One theory for its scarcity is that the noble was coined to pay off David II's ransom to the English, thus ensuring that most of them would be melted down once they were delivered into English hands. Its value was six shillings and eight pence Scots.

There are only 4 surviving examples. The specimens are in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow; the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh; the British Museum, London and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.




The obverse bears a king standing facing holding a sword and shield with lion rampant, on a ship ornamented with five lions within a beaded circle broken by the ship's mast.
The design is circumscribed by the inscription + DAVID : DEI : GRA : REX : SCOTORVm + which translates as 'David, by the Grace of God, Kings of Scots'.
The coin is notable as it is the first Scottish coin to feature the lion rampant.




The reverse bears an ornate cross with crowns and lions in the quarters all within a double tressure of nine arcs, inner arcs beaded, within a beaded circle.
The design is circumscribed by the inscription + IHC AVTEM TRANCIENS P MEDIVM ILLORVM IBAT which translates as 'But Jesus, passing through the midst of them, went His way'.

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Robert II 1371-1390



Silver halfpenny with an obverse inscription +ROBERTVS REX (King Robert) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, VIL AEI DIR RVR (Town of Edinburgh) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle with pierced five-pointed mullet in each quarter.




Silver penny with an obverse inscription +ROBERTVS REX SCOTO (Robert, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within beaded inner circle and, on the reverse, +VIL LA E Din BVR (Town of Edinburgh) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle with pierced five-pointed mullet in each quarter. Double struck on reverse.




Silver half-groat with an obverse inscription +ROBERTVS+ DEI+ GRA+ REX+ SCOTTORV (Robert, by the grace of God, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within a double tressure of six arcs within beaded inner circle; trefoils in spandrels. On the reverse in the angles of a long cross pattée, +DnS PROT ECTOR mEVm (The Lord is my Protector) in outer circle, VILL AED PER THx (Town of Perth) in inner circle, both circles beaded; with four pierced mullets each with five points in the inner quarters.




Silver groat with an obverse inscription +ROBERTVS++ DEI++ GRA++ REX++ SCOTTORVM (Robert, by the grace of God, King of Scots), around a crowned bust facing left with a fleur-de-lis tipped sceptre in front within a double tressure of six arcs within beaded inner circle; trefoils in spandrels. On the reverse in the angles of a long cross pattée, +DnS+̯ P TECTOR m'S +I+ LIB ATORm'S (God is my Defender and my Redeemer) in outer circle, VILL AED PER Thx (Town of Perth) in inner circle, both circles beaded; with four pierced mullets each with five points in the inner quarters.

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Robert III 1390-1406

By the end of the reign of Robert II, Scottish money was valued a quarter less than the English equivalent. In 1390 the Commons of England petitioned that the money of Scotland be totally removed from the kingdom. This request was not acceded to, but the value was reduced to half by 1392 (based on quality and quantity of silver).
Robert III issued silver groats and half-groats termed heavy coinage 1390-1403, silver groats of reduced weight termed light coinage 1403-06 and debased silver pennies and halfpennies 1403-06.




1390-1403 silver groat with an obverse inscription + ROBERTVS DEI GRA REX SCOTORVM (Robert, by the grace of God, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing within a double tressure of seven arcs within beaded inner circle. On the reverse in the angles of a long cross pattée, DNS PTECTOR MS LIBATOR MS (God is my Defender and my Redeemer) in outer circle, VILL A ED INBV RGH (Town of Edinburgh) in inner circle, both circles beaded; with three pellets in each quarter.




1390-1403 silver groat with an obverse inscription + ROBERTVSx. DEIx. GRAx. REXx. SCOTTORV (Robert, by the grace of God, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing, trefoil on breast and trefoils on cusps, within a double tressure of seven arcs not extending beyond the bust within beaded inner circle. On the reverse in the angles of a long cross pattée, +DnSx. Px. TECTORx. mSx.Ix. LIB (God is my Defender and my Redeemer) in outer circle, VILLA x.DEx.: PER TH+, (Town of Perth) in inner circle, both circles beaded; with three pellets in each quarter.




Debased silver coins were made from billon, an alloy of a precious metal with a majority base metal content.

1403-06 debased silver penny with an obverse inscription [+ROBERTVS DEI G REX SCO] (Robert, King of Scots) around a crowned bust facing in a beaded inner circle and, on the reverse +VI [LLA:] EDIN BVRG H (Town of Edinburgh) in the angles of a long cross pattée around a beaded circle with trefoil of pellets in each quarter.