I have found a small (15mm) coin with some edges rubbed away but can read some of the inscriptions. I can see SCOTORUM and I think MARIA on one side, with a fleur-de-lis symbol in between the words. in the centre is a crown and what I think might be a forward facing face, but it's not clear. On the reverse side I can make out EDINBURG. It is divided into quadrants. In two of them there are crowns, in one is another fleur-de-lis.
I'd be grateful if anyone could tell me what this is, and how I can clean it in order to see more of the detail.
Thanks!
Without a picture, a precise id is not possible, but from your description, the most likely candidate is a penny Scots (which is not the same thing as an English penny) 1547 or 1554.
obv: facing crowned portrait in circle +MARIA•D•G•REGINA •SCOTORVM or variant
rev: forked long cross, crowns and 5-leafed flowers in the corners in circle OPI...DVM...EDN...BVR
The legends stand for "Mary by the grace of god queen of Scots" and "city of Edinburgh". There are several varieties, mostly depending on the face, but since you don't mention the portrait I presume it is a bit worn.
Peter
Yes, that's it - thank you so much! It's very exciting. A piece of history from my grandfather's belongings - I'd love to know how it came into his possession, but not possible. Horrified to think it's a scrap of metal I could have thrown away! Thank you again.