Scottish Coins & Tokens

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Scottish Jacobite & Earlier Medals

 

WSC-6929:  James Francis Edward Stuart / James III of Scotland Silver Touch Piece.  See the excellent “The Sovereign Remedy” by Noel Woolf (ISBN 0 901603 01 5) for everything you need to know about touchpieces and the Kings & Queens that personally handed them out.  The would-be James III of England or James VIII of Scotland was in exile in Italy immediately following his second unsuccessful invasion of Scotland in 1715.  It was while in exile in the Palazzo del Re, Rome (courtesy of the pope) that he had these silver touch pieces made for both his English and Scottish supporters.  This example is very much an Italian commission due to the IAC.III obverse legend, as opposed to the French commissioned English IAC 3 and Scottish IAC 8 reverse legends.  James gave them out in very tiny quantities during special Touching Ceremonies where, because he was in direct contact with God, he had the power to cure Scofula (TB).  Or so he believed.  This one is from a collection dating back to the 1880's – see tickets.  This image here, from an auction just last year, illustrates  just how rare these Scottish pieces are (and how bad the auction house was at estimating value!) - they were produced in such tiny quantities and very few survived.  Guaranteed to have been personally touched by James when he gave this out to a Scrofula sufferer at one of the ceremonies.  This is a piece of Scottish and English (but mainly Scottish!!) history.  £1,475

 

WSC-7392:  1697 Scottish Jacobite Medal – The Treaty of Ryswick.  Issued by the Stuarts, as part of a series, and likely intended for distribution in London to partisans of the Stuarts, so basically early propaganda pieces.  The son of James II was chosen in preference to his father, presumably to show succession and therefore legitimacy of the cause.  M.I. (ii)195/504 and listed as Rare.  Ex Bernard Paul collection, ex Spink.  £185

 

WSC-8989:  Scottish 1708 Jacobite Medal - Map of Great Britain.  Prince James, the Elder Pretender to the throne.  MI ( ii) 312/133, by Norbert Roettier in AE metal.  An interesting medal depicting the British Isles surrounded by ships at sea.  The obverse legend reads literally "Whose is this?", meaning "Whose image is this?" and amplified out to something like "Whose image is this?  The King's.  Render then to the King these Islands, which are his."  Struck in 1708 around the time of the Union and distributed among the partisans of the exiled royal family, the medal sought to build upon the unpopularity of said Union.  As ever, France was on hand to do anything to upset the British - they are her ships surrounding the British Isles.  Interestingly, although struck in 1708, they were used politically again in reasonably high numbers by being distributed at 1711 and 1714 events.  Obviously a design that the Jacobites thought highly of and indeed, the reverse was a stroke of genius in terms of its eye-catching, instantaneously understood message.  £395

 

WSC-8997:  1721 Large Scottish Jacobite Medal - Prince James.  A medal actually issued for distribution to the Jacobites in 1721 by Otto Hamerani.  Medallic Illustrations (ii) 454/63, Eimer 493.  42.12 grams in weight and a rather impressive 50mm diameter.  The obverse depicts Prince James III, although bizarrely, his name is not mentioned at all.  The reverse shows the Hanovarian horse trampling upon the Lion and the Unicorn with Britannia seated,  deploring their misfortune.  The backdrop is London with fugitives carrying off their goods to that city and beyond.  The legend translates as, "What more grievous than being in captivity."  It would appear that this particular medal was to promote exertions being made secretly to raise troops and to supply arms to insurgents in Britain in  order that yet another effort might be made to replace the Stuarts upon the throne, not just of Scotland but Britain.  Apparently, the mysterious suppression of the Prince's name was supposed to increase the interest in the cause.  The Hanovarians were well settled upon the throne of the Union by this point although they were far from popular, not least because George 1st and his court only spoke German, primarily because they couldn't speak English!  The Jacobites were masters of propaganda and symbolism (they would thrive and flourish on today's Social Media!) although this particular message, subliminal or not, would appear to require a Ph.D to work it out!  A most interesting Jacobite piece and bearing in mind what you're buying - a 303 year old medal and the history around it - a relatively cheap thing.  £395

 

WSC-7688:  1731 Scottish Jacobite Medal – Bonnie Prince Charlie.  A large medal (crown sized) in base metal showing “The Legitimacy of the Jacobite Succession”, through the children of James III: Charles the Young Pretender and Prince Henry.  From a very old collection; Hugo Harpur-Crew of Calke Abbey in Derbyshire.  The Harpurs were Baronets.  I am unable to ascertain if the Harpurs had any links to the Jacobite cause.  A silver example of this medal sold for over £1,000 after commissions.  Eimer 521.  An interesting medal.  £345

 

 

 

Hammered Gold & Silver Coinage

 

David 1st

 

WSC-8144:  David 1st Early Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Period D - a posthumous issue literally struck under the boy king Malcom IV's reign, 1153-65.  Right facing bust with angled sceptre to the right (a quick camera phone image inserted as the main image wasn't great); cross fleury with a pellet in each quarter with NO pellets being on stalks - occasionally you get two stalks, sometimes four.  Little legend extant but it would have been blundered (meaningless) anyway.  Spink 5010.  David was the first Scottish king to issue coinage.  The main mints were initially in Carlisle, following the capture of Carlisle by the Scots in AD 1136 (Carlisle already had an established mint which had been operated by the English together with silver mines nearby) and Edinburgh but in the later Periods, B, C and D, mints were opened in Roxburgh, Berwick and Perth.  Under Prince Henry, who unfortunately died a year before his father, David 1st, mints also operated in Corbridge and Bamborough.  Period D coinage is likely to have been Roxburgh and Berwick.  This one short of flan.  Should you be fortunate enough to find another David 1st penny sale, it will almost certainly cost you more than this one!  Good coins are around the £10,000 mark now.  Old tickets here.  A rare issue, being the first ever Scottish king to issue coinage, appealing to both David 1st and Malcolm IV collectors alike.  £1,950

 

 

 

Prince Henry, Earl of Northumberland & Huntingdon

 

WSC-7916:  Scottish Prince Henry Hammered Silver Cut Halfpenny - Excessively Rare ERL Variety.  Period A so circa 1139 - mid 1140's.  Obverse: [hEN]RIC ERL - as Stephen's Watford B.M.C. 1 type but having the extremely rare legend variety.  I am unable to find any extant examples in any of the major collections I have reference books to (Scottish National, Hunterian, Glasgow, Ashmolen etc museums).  Reverse: [+EREBA]LD : ON : C[OLEB] which is the Corbridge mint.  Spink 5011.  I haven't seen a Prince Henry offered for sale since the last (and only other) one I sold, which was a decade or two ago now.  A very rare offering indeed.  £1,675

 

 

 

William 1st

 

Early Issues: Crescent & Pellet coinage, circa 1174-95

 

WSC-8068:  William 1st, The Lion, Rare Early Scottish Hammered Silver Crescent & Pellet Penny.  Phase II Sterling, circa 1180-95.  Roxburgh mint.  Obv: bust left with wide crown, sceptre-head with cross pommée.  Rev: +RAVL [DE] RO[XE]B[VR] - Raul of Roxburgh: short cross pattée with crescents and pellets in angles.  Spink 5025.  William gained the title "The Lion" not through any particular act of bravery but rather through changing the dragon on the arms of Scotland with a lion.  Prior to a chance discovery of a hoard of early Scottish coins in 1780 (the Dyke Hoard), this issue was completely unheard of, which I think really brings it home as to just how rare these coins actually are.  Contrary to what the ticket says, this is about as struck as it left the mint although in his exuberance, friend Raul hit the coin far too hard all those centuries ago which resulted in flat areas.  Uneven toning, a rather crude yet somehow appealing obverse die, but spectacularly sharp areas in both centre areas.   A very rare and desirable coin indeed.  £1,695

 

WSC-7978:  CHOICE William 1st, The Lion, Rare Early Scottish Hammered Silver Crescent & Pellet Penny.  Phase 1 Sterling, cross potent sceptre head so bust 1, phase 1, circa 1174-80.  Perth mint.  Spink 5024, Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe 197; Burns 2 (fig. 30); SCBI 35 (Ashmolean & Hunterian) 31/A-32/A.  Obv: [+ LЄ] R[Є WI]LLAm, bust left with wide crown.  Rev: + FO[LPOLT] DЄ PЄR[T :], short cross pattee with crescents and pellets in angles.  Phase 1 coins are much the rarer of the crescents and pellets coinage, although to be fair, they're all rare.  It is interesting to note that Spink do not acknowledge Perth as an option for Phase 1 coinage: Edinburgh and Dun are the only options they give.  William gained the title "The Lion" not through any particular act of bravery but rather through changing the dragon on the arms of Scotland with a lion.  Old ticket here.  Good VF (about as struck as it left the mint - remember, this issue was contemporary with the English Teably coinage, and we all know how dreadful that was) with attractive cabinet toning together with the majority of the legends legible, something rarely seen on these early issues.  A very large, unclipped flan.  All that is secondary to the amazing depiction of William himself.  You'll struggle to find another for sale and if you do, it won't be as good as this one - even the Spink plate coin, with all Spink's resources, is not as good as this coin.  A very rare and desirable coin indeed.  £1,950 RESERVED (E.M.16-9-24 LayAway)

Provenance:

Ex Baldwin, bought by...

Richard A. Jourdan July 2007

 

 

 

Short Cross & Stars “PHASE A” coinage, circa 1195-1205

 

WSC-7282:  William 1st “The Lion” Scottish Medieval Penny.  Short cross & stars coinage of 1195 – 1205.  Spink 5027.  +RAVL ON ROCEB – rarer Roxburgh mint.   The Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles (#35 – Scottish coins in the Ashmolean & Hunterian Museums) lists only three examples from Roxburgh, none of which are in the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow!  £285

 

WSC-7970:  William 1st Scottish Medieval Hammered Silver Penny.  Phase A, Short cross & stars coinage of 1195 – 1205.  Spink 5027.  +hVE ON EDNEBVR – Edinburgh mint.   In the recent auction of the "Property of a Gentleman"  - a collection of Scottish coins, there was only a single Phase A represented in the entire sale.  The Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles (#35 – Scottish coins in the Ashmolean & Hunterian Museums) lists only two examples from Edinburgh, one in the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, the other in the Ashmolean Museum.  It is generally assumed that the introduction of the Short Cross coinage dates from 1195 because of a reference in the contemporary Melrose Chronicle, although this is a full fifteen years after the changeover in England. Roxburgh was the most important mint at this period, with Raul responsible for more than half the entire production of Phase A.  Edinburgh is the rarest of the three Phase A mint towns with this mint and moneyer being but a fraction of the total output.  £485

 

WSC-8011:  William 1st, The Lion, Scottish Hammered Silver Voided Short Cross & Stars Penny.  Phase A Sterling, circa 1195-1205.  Roxburgh mint.  Obv: +LE REI  WILLAM, bust left.  Rev: +RAVL.ON.ROECBV, voided short cross with stars in angles.  Spink 5027.  It is interesting to note that William gained the title "The Lion" not through any particular act of bravery but rather through changing the dragon on the arms of Scotland with a lion.  Easily VF with good toning although the planchet appears to have been buckled during the striking process, something we see quite often on early hammered coins, particularly the English short and voided long cross issues.  £495

Provenance:

Bought Seaby 1982

Ex R.W. Kirton collection (an excellent numismatic researcher who amassed a comprehensive collection of Scottish coinage)

 

 

 

Short Cross & Stars “PHASE B” coinage, circa 1205-1230

 

WSC-7345:  William 1st “The Lion” Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Short Cross & Stars, Phase B coinage of 1205-1230.  Spink 5029.  Obverse: the rarer LE REI WILAM obverse regnal reading; reverse: +hVE WALTER – jointly struck by the moneyers of the Edinburgh & Perth mints.  An excellent portrait piece, being just as good as the Spink plate coin.  £425

 

WSC-8049:  William 1st “The Lion” Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Short Cross & Stars, Phase B coinage of 1205-1230.  Spink 5029.  Obverse: the rarer LE REI W[ILA]M obverse regnal reading; reverse: +hVE WALT[E]R – jointly struck by the moneyers of the Edinburgh & Perth mints.  An excellent portrait piece, being just as good as the Spink plate coin.  £395

 

 

 

Alexander II

 

WSC-8169:  Alexander II (2nd) Medieval Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Phase C (the Phase A on the tickets refers to the style under William 1st, Spink 5027-8), circa 1230-34: coinage in the name of Alexander’s father, William the Lion: +: WILLELMVS REX.  For some reason, possibly because Alexander II was very busy with insurrections, invasions and intrigue throughout his reign, coinage retained William’s name for some twenty years, although the portraits were of Alexander II.  Joint moneyers working out of Roxburgh: AIMER & ADAM ON RO. 1.08g, 2h.  Spink 5034.  Good F for this particular issue.  Rare coin.  £695

Provenance

Ex Spink

 

WSC-7650:  Alexander II (2nd) Medieval Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Phase C, circa 1230-34: coinage in the name of Alexander’s father, William the Lion: +: WILELMVS REX although this is the rare variety where the obverse legend is retrograde.  For some reason, possibly because Alexander II was very busy with insurrections, invasions and intrigue throughout his reign, coinage retained William’s name for some twenty years, although the portraits were Alexander II.  Joint moneyers working out of Roxburgh: PERIS ADAM DE ROCI. 1.16g, 3h.  Ashmolean 82, Burns 66c, Spink 5034.  Near VF for this particular issue.  Rare coin.  £745

 

WSC-7759:  Alexander II (2nd) Scottish Hammered Silver Voided Short Cross Penny.  The first issue, Phase C, circa 1230-34: coinage in the name of Alexander’s father, William the Lion: +: WILELMVS REX.  For some reason, possibly because Alexander II was very busy with insurrections, invasions and intrigue throughout his reign, coinage retained William’s name for some twenty years, although the portraits were Alexander II.  Joint moneyers working out of Roxburgh: PERIS ADAM ON RO. 1.32g, 6h.  SCBI 35, Burns 67a, Spink 5034.  Near VF for this particular issue.  Rare coin and a rarer still Burns’ variety.  £845

 

WSC-7966:  Rare Alexander II (2nd) in Alexander's name Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Short cross & stars, Phase D, circa 1235.  Roxburgh mint, left facing bust with sceptre, Spink 5036.  Obverse: [A]LEXANDER RE[X]; reverse: PIER[ES] ON ROE.  The impressive EMC / SCBI database has no examples.  The Glasgow Hunterian Museum has no examples.  The Oxford Ashmolean Museum has two examples, neither of which are as good as this coin.  The National Museum of Edinburgh has two examples, only one of which is illustrated (presumed the better of the two - the non illustrated coin being retrograde on the obv), which is not as good as this coin.  An early 2024 DNW auction witnessed an Alexander II Phase C penny in William's name go through at just under £1,300 after commissions.  Alexander II Phase D, in Alexander's own name, is a much, much rarer coin.  Ex Alaister McCay (2015), ex Tomlinson collection, ex Silbury Coins (old tickets in chronological order here).  An exceptionally rare coin and one in better grade than any of the major collection examples that I have managed to locate.  £2,450

 

 

 

Alexander III

 

1st Issue Pennies

 

WSC-6793:  Alexander III Rarer 1st Issue STIRLING Mint Penny.  Long cross & stars, 1250-80.  hO(N) RI. ON^S TR – Henri of Stirling.  Type III, SCBI 35, 137/A, Spink 5043.  Old collection piece.  A rare Scottish mint.  £395

 

WSC-8012:  Alexander III Scottish Hammered Silver Voided Long Cross & Stars Penny.  First coinage, Sterling, circa 1250-80.  Aberdeen mint.  Obv: +ALEXAnDER REX, bust right.  Rev: +ALISAD'ON.AB, voided long cross with stars in angles.  The rarer type IIa - Spink 5042.  A rare mint town.  nVF, uneven toning.  A very rare coin indeed, as evidenced by the Kirton ticket annotation top right.  £865

Provenance:

Nottinghamshire metal detecting find, 2004

Ex R.W. Kirton collection (an excellent numismatic researcher who amassed a comprehensive collection of Scottish coinage)

 

WSC-7978:  Alexander III Early Scottish Hammered Silver First Coinage Penny.  Long cross & stars, ANDREW ON R - moneyer Andrews at the Roxburgh mint (knowing what to look for, the entire mint reading is just about discernable).  Type 3, Spink 5043.  A common enough variety but it its favour, the rarer moneyer and obvious grade, particularly the portrait.  £485

 

 

 

2nd Coinage Pennies

 

WSC-6856:  Alexander III Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Second coinage, 1280-86.  Edinburgh mint town.  Class E, Spink 5056.  Not a great eye appeal coin (worn and centrally pierced) but a rare 20 point reverse.  £55

 

WSC-6769:  Alexander III Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Second coinage, 1280-86.  Perth mint town.  Class E, Spink 5056.  £145

 

WSC-6881:  Alexander III Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Second coinage, 1280-86.  Perth mint town.  Rarer class D,   Spink 5057.  From an old collection – see original ticket here.  £135

 

WSC-7275:  Alexander III Scottish Medieval Hammered Silver Penny.  Sterling class E with x20 points making this Edinburgh mint.  Spink 5056.  Actually quite a rare little coin as there are extra pellets: one pellet in the second and two in the fourth reverse quarters together with a pellet separating ALEXAND with ER on the obverse.  The National Museum of Scotland  in Edinburgh has a single example in their collection.  If you’re looking for interesting varieties, look no further!  £95

 

WSC-8017:  Alexander III Scottish Hammered Silver Long Cross & Mullets Penny.  Second coinage, Sterling, circa 1280-6.  Perth mint.  Obv: +ALEXANDER DEI GRA, bust left.  Rev: +REX SCOTORVM, long cross with x2 mullets of six and x2 mullets of seven points in angles.  This is a rare class E2 / late D1 mule.  Spink 5056/5057.  A handsome coin.  £335

Provenance:

Ex A. Gillis (May 2002)

Ex R.W. Kirton collection (an excellent numismatic researcher who amassed a comprehensive collection of Scottish coinage)

 

WSC-8130:  Alexander III Scottish Hammered Silver Long Cross & Mullets Penny.  Second coinage, Sterling, circa 1280-6.  Roxburgh mint.  Obv: +ALEXANDER DEI GRA, bust left.  Rev: +REX SCOTORVM, long cross with x3 mullets of six and x1 mullets of five points in angles.  This is a rare class E1 / M mule.  Old tickets here.  Spink 5055/5056.  Deeply toned.  £285

Provenance:

Ex A. Gillis (May 2004)

Ex R.W. Kirton collection (an excellent numismatic researcher who amassed a comprehensive collection of Scottish coinage)

 

WSC-8131:  Alexander III Scottish Hammered Silver Long Cross & Mullets Penny.  Second coinage, Sterling, circa 1280-6.  Roxburgh mint.  Obv: +ALEXANDER DEI GRA, bust left.  Rev: +REX SCOTORVM, long cross with x3 mullets of six and x1 mullets of five points in angles.  This is a rarer Mc2 class.  Old tickets here.  Spink 5055/5056.  Deeply toned.  £285

Provenance:

Ex Steve Blencoe (2008)

Ex R.W. Kirton collection (an excellent numismatic researcher who amassed a comprehensive collection of Scottish coinage)

 

 

 

John Baliol

 

WSC-8018:  John Baliol Scottish Hammered Silver Long Cross & Mullets Penny.  First coinage, rough surface issue, circa 1292-6.  Berwick mint.  Obv: +IOhANNES DEI GRA, bust left.  Rev: +REX SCOTORVM, long cross with x4 mullets of six points in angles.  Spink 5065.  John Baliol was “chosen” out of thirteen competitors for the Scottish throne upon the death of Alexander III.  The English king, Edward I, was the arbitrator.  John Baliol’s four year reign ended in 1296 with his abdication when Berwick, Edinburgh, Perth, Roxburgh and Stirling all fell to the English.  Various old tickets.  Rare.  £435

 

WSC-8132:  John Baliol Scottish Medieval Hammered Silver Long Cross Penny.  First coinage, "Rough Surface" issue, struck early on in the 1292-6 period.  The rare St Andrews mint.  Spink 5067.  John Baliol was “chosen” out of thirteen competitors for the Scottish throne upon the death of Alexander III.  The English king, Edward I, was the arbitrator.  John Baliol’s four year reign ended in 1296 with his abdication when Berwick, Edinburgh, Perth, Roxburgh and Stirling all fell to the English.  Collectors will be aware that the vast majority of John Baliol coins were at the very back of the eye-appeal queue, non more-so than the rough surface, first issue.  This coin absolutely bucks that trend with a remarkably superior obverse.  The reverse less-so due to double striking.  However, the St Andrews mint attribution elevates this coin to a much rarer level than mere grade.  I can list you many instances where Spink are just plain wrong in their pricing.  Let's be honest, we all can.  However, that they list the St Andrews Baliol penny at just £10 higher than a Berwick (ie standard) Baliol penny is, I think, now top of my "Spink: Incredulous Prices!!" list.  I have had only one other St Andrews example in the last 30 odd years and I even remember that it was not a patch on this one.  A rare find.  £795 RESERVED

 

 

 

Robert “The Bruce” 1st

 

Pennies

 

WSC-7619:  Robert The Bruce Hammered Silver Medieval Penny.  Robert 1st, 1306-29.  Crowned head left, sceptre before, beaded circles and legend surrounding, +:ROBERTVS: DEI: GRA:, rev. long cross pattée, pierced mullet of five points in each quarter, beaded circles +SCO TOR Vm R EX, weight 1.35g (Burns 1, figure 225; Spink 5076).  One of two star coins in the 2009 Drayton Hoard (the other was also a Robert Bruce that was sold through HistoryInCoins 9-6-22 for £2,200) – over a kilo of predominantly English medieval pennies.  The hoard was likely deposited in 1353; the last issue to be found in the hoard was an Edward III pre treaty York penny.  Only 34 coins out of the many thousands were Scottish.  The British Museum undertook a cursory examination and cleanup of the hoard but were unable to devote the necessary resources and time for a full study.  The coins were thereby returned to the finder under the Treasure Act where they were later sold.  A direct descendant of David 1st, Robert Bruce was crowned in 1306, on the back of ten turbulent years with various armies moving backwards and forwards over Scotland.  In 1318, Bruce’s reign saw the gradual repossession of the kingdom, partly from the English and partly from Scottish rivals.  It is likely that no coinage was struck for Robert Bruce until 1320.  Only three recorded dies, this one being Burns 1.   All Robert Bruce coinage is very rare but interestingly, although his coinage basically copied that of Alexander III, whereas Alexander’s coinage is often found VF or better, Robert Bruce’s coinage (on the rare occasions you do actually see an example) invariably turns up worn or damaged / pierced.  There have actually been a couple of Bruce pennies go through auction early 2024, both of which have achieved eye-watering prices at auction.  Indeed, the Davisson Robert Bruce penny (lot 225, March 2024) sold at $5,000 hammer price.  Look them up to see. The all important provenance makes this coin extremely significant and desirable.  £2,850

 

WSC-8165:  Robert The Bruce Hammered Silver Medieval Penny.  Robert 1st, 1306-29.  Crowned head left, sceptre before, beaded circles and legend surrounding, +:ROBERTVS: DEI: GRA:, rev. long cross pattée, pierced mullet of five points in each quarter, beaded circles +SCO TOR VMR EX, weight 1.33g (Burns 1, figure 225; Spink 5076).  A direct descendant of David 1st, Robert Bruce was crowned in 1306, on the back of ten turbulent years with various armies moving backwards and forwards over Scotland.  In 1318, Bruce’s reign saw the gradual repossession of the kingdom, partly from the English and partly from Scottish rivals.  It is likely that no coinage was struck for Robert Bruce until 1320.  Only three recorded dies, this one being Burns 1.   All Robert Bruce coinage is very rare but interestingly, although his coinage basically copied that of Alexander III, whereas Alexander’s coinage is often found VF or better, Robert Bruce’s coinage (on the rare occasions you do actually see an example) invariably turns up worn or damaged / pierced.  There have actually been a couple of Bruce pennies go through auction early 2024, both of which have achieved eye-watering prices at auction.  Indeed, the Davisson Robert Bruce penny (lot 225, March 2024) sold at $5,000 hammer price.  Look them up to see. About VF grade with a patchy dark toning (which could easily be much improved if so desired) as opposed to the slight porosity stated in the old ticket.  £2,850

 

 

 

David II

 

Groats

 

WSC-6773:  David II Medieval Scottish Hammered Silver Groat.  Third (Light) coinage, 1367-71  VILLA EDINBVRGH – Edinburgh mint.  Spink 5125 – star on the base of the sceptre coupled with trefoils within the tressure.  £275

 

 

Pennies

 

WSC-7490:  David II Medieval Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  Second coinage, 1351-7, Edinburgh mint.  Spink 5088.  Nice grade coin.  £275

 

 

 

Robert II

 

Pennies

 

WSC-8170:  Robert II Medieval Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  1371-90, Perth mint.  Spink 5150 with, perhaps unusually for this issue, no star or saltire on the sceptre handle.  Virtually as it came out of the mint - no clipping, minimal wear but a combination of indifferent, shallow dies coupled with a strike by the moneyer that he was unlikely to go home to his wife at the end of a hard day at the mint and be proud of, talking about it with her over the "neeps and tatties".  Nevertheless, a very nice coin.  Interesting fact: Robert II’s grandfather was Robert the Bruce.  Sold with an old Mike Vosper ticket.  £325

 

WSC-6093:  Robert II Scottish Hammered Silver Penny.  1371-90, Perth mint.  Interesting fact: Robert II’s grandfather was Robert the Bruce.  Spink 5146 – rarer variety.  £159

 

WSC-7935:  Robert II Scottish Medieval Hammered Silver Penny.  The first Scottish king of the Stewart line.  Edinburgh mint.  Crowned bust left, star on sceptre handle.  Spink 5145.  Robert II’s grandfather was Robert the Bruce; his mother, Marjorie Bruce, being Robert Bruce's daughter.  Robert was Regent under the imprisoned David II and was himself later imprisoned with his three sons in England when Edward III was recognised as successor to David II.  All Robert II coins are hard to source.  £395

 

WSC-7944:  Robert II Scottish Medieval Hammered Silver Penny.  The first Scottish king of the Stewart line.  Edinburgh mint.  Crowned bust left, rarer no star on sceptre handle.  Spink 5146.  Robert II’s grandfather was Robert the Bruce; his mother, Marjorie Bruce, being Robert Bruce's daughter.  Robert was Regent under the imprisoned David II and was himself later imprisoned with his three sons in England when Edward III was recognised as successor to David II.  All Robert II coins are hard to source.  £395

 

 

 

Robert III

 

WSC-8124:  Robert III Scottish Medieval Hammered Silver Groat.  Heavy coinage, Edinburgh mint.  First issue with obverse colon stops and reverse saltire "colon-esque" legend terminals.  Seven arcs to tressure.  The facing bust is not typical of this issue, being anything but tall.  Spink 5164.  John, Earl of Carrick, eldest son of Robert II, changed his name to Robert on succeeding to the throne.  Being almost entirely disabled by an accident before his father's death, the country was effectively run by yet another Robert - Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, the king's younger brother.  Just as in England, there was a severe shortage of silver being brought to the mint.  £395

 

WSC-7980:  Choice Robert III Scottish Medieval Hammered Silver Groat.  Heavy coinage of 1390 - 1403.  Initial mark Cross Pattée, Edinburgh mint, Spink 5164.  Type 3a with crown 3, seven arcs to the tressure with trefoils in the cusps.  R.M. Kirton, who certainly knew his stuff, had this as Burns #4, figure 344 variety and "Very Rare".  Outstanding grade, being an par with the Spink plate coin.  A tremendous coin with excellent provenance!  £775

Provenance:

ex Dr James Davidson collection

ex R.M. Kirton collection

Ex Bermondsey Coins (£750 ticket price)

 

 

 

James I

 

WMH-8171:  James 1st Medieval Hammered Silver Round Halfpenny.  Front facing bust of rougher work; crown of three fleurs with large central fleur - a non regal, unofficial dies, contemporary counterfeit of the day example, based on the style and rather random lettering.  The Mike Vosper ticket had this as Scottish James 1st.  I've pondered and pondered over this little coin, going from James 1st halfpenny to the small James III pennies and back to the English Henry V coinage.  It could easily be Henry V of England (ie it was meant to pass as Henry V of England), as it's far from an accurate counterfeit of anything official.  What we have for sure is an obverse with a saltire and possible (very) broken annulet by the crown, a strong initial mark of either a Plain Cross or a Cross Pattée, and lettering that appears to start "I" but could just as easily be a lombardic "h" minus its bottom stroke.  The reverse is very English looking, however, James 1st of Scotland unusually adopted this very reverse with x3 pellets in each quarter.  The lettering is a lot more like London that the Edinburgh it has to be if it were to be James 1st.  But I think Mike Vosper is correct in his attribution of James 1st, although I think we'd both caveat that with "tentative".  There is no saltire or cross to be seen on the Henry V issues.  Henry VI used them but in combinations of cross-cross and saltire-saltire.  James 1st used then on the penny in conjunction with annulets (Spink 5212) in the type C Edinburgh penny.  It's looking like the penny was perhaps the template for the counterfeiter's halfpenny?  Or maybe he intended this coin to pass as a penny but on a much reduced flan to save money?  Interestingly, the silver appears reasonably good whereas the official pence of this issue was billon.  An extremely interesting coin that has taken up way too much of my time, as well as something quite rare as I've never seen the like before.  £295

 

WSC-8145:  James 1st Medieval Scottish Hammered Silver Groat.  First fleur-de-lis issue, 1406-37 but early on in that reign for this first issue.  Edinburgh mint.  Sceptre to the left - Spink 5195.  The price of silver rose steadily throughout Europe during this period which caused problems with all of Europe’s coinage, not least Scotland’s.  Their solution was to issue billon “watered down” silver for the lower denominations and to increase the value of the groats (there were no halfgroats under James 1st) from fourpence to sixpence.   All the silver issues were poorly struck AND experienced considerable circulatory wear and damage because there simply wasn't enough coinage to go around - there was insufficient bullion at the mint to issue fresh coin and what coinage there was in circulation often found its way onto the continent (and thus the melting pot) as either a fourpence or sixpence coin here was worth much more in pure bullion content.  Coincraft states: "All (groat) issues are rare, especially the ones from provincial mints.  Coins were often poorly struck and are rarely found in better than Fine condition." Old tickets here.  This coin is arguably overall better than the Spink plate coin, that being the vest best they could source with all the leading collections they have access to.  Rare.  £875

Provenance:

Ex Leland Scott collection

 

WSC-8146:  James 1st Medieval Scottish Hammered Silver Groat.  First fleur-de-lis issue, 1406-37 but early on in that reign for this first issue.  Linlithgow mint - an extremely rare provincial Scottish mint.  Sceptre to the left - Spink 5199.  The price of silver rose steadily throughout Europe during this period which caused problems with all of Europe’s coinage, not least Scotland’s.  Their solution was to issue billon “watered down” silver for the lower denominations and to increase the value of the groats (there were no halfgroats under James 1st) from fourpence to sixpence.   All the silver issues were poorly struck AND experienced considerable circulatory wear and damage because there simply wasn't enough coinage to go around - there was insufficient bullion at the mint to issue fresh coin and what coinage there was in circulation often found its way onto the continent (and thus the melting pot) as either a fourpence or sixpence coin here was worth much more in pure bullion content.  Provincial mints such as Linlithgow would be very much at the back of the queue in terms of receiving even tiny amounts of rare silver bullion.  Coincraft states: "All (groat) issues are rare, especially the ones from provincial mints.  Coins were often poorly struck and are rarely found in better than Fine condition." Old tickets here.  Spink couldn't locate an example to use as a plate coin, even with all the leading collections they have access to.  Kirton himself, not a man you associate with any kind of over-egging, stated "Very Rare" on his ticket.  £2,375

Provenance:

Ex R.W. Kirton collection (an excellent numismatic researcher who amassed a comprehensive collection of Scottish coinage), purchased 2014

 

 

 

James II

 

WSC-8073:  James II Scottish Medieval Hammered Silver Groat.  Second coinage, second issue, type IIb.  Initial mark Crown, Edinburgh mint, no annulets to neck - Spink 5233.  James II groats and halfgroats were designed to come into line with their English counterparts, at least that was the intention for the second coinage.  The Scottish did such a good job that the new groats did indeed look like English groats and were the same weight and had the same silver content as the English groats but unfortunately were valued at twelve pence in Scotland (there was an effort to carry out a revaluation of the groat from 12d to 8d but for whatever reason, this never happened), whereas the corresponding English groats were valued at four pence in England.  In a period where monarchs rarely ran the full course of their lives, James II met his maker in 1460 in one of the more unusual ways - during the siege of Roxburgh Castle, a canon next to the king accidentally blew up, terminating both cannon and king.  A rare coin indeed with excellent provenance and most importantly, in high grade for issue.  Toned, full flan, VF for issue and with good provenance.  A coin with excellent eye-appeal and from a monarch rarely seen on coinage these days.  £1,950

Provenance:

ex C. Blom collection (1966)

ex DNW

ex M. Lessen collection

ex R.M. Kirton collection

 

 

 

James III

 

Groat

 

WSC-8036:  James III Scottish Hammered Silver Groat.  Light issue, type 4 of 1482 - small facing bust, trefoils by shoulders with low crown of x5 points; reverse pellets and mullets in opposing angles.  Edinburgh mint with one of the more unusual mint signatures: VILLA EDENBEOVRGE.  Spink 5280A.  Crowned aged 9, the Scots lost Berwick to keep the peace with England but gained Orkney and the Shetland Isles as a part dowry (which makes you wonder what the other part of the dowry was!) when James married Margaret of Denmark (she was just 13).  James III was so unpopular due to his lifestyle and blind insistence upon a policy of pursuing an alliance with the Kingdom of England that he was, perhaps inevitably, murdered after his defeat at Sauchieburn.  Interestingly, R.M. Kirton points out on his ticket that the reverse fourth quarter reads, in error, ATVRM as opposed to ATVRMS.  Graded nVF on ticket which is perhaps erring on the harsh side, bearing in mind that the issue as a whole wasn't that good.  A scarce coin.  £985 RESERVED (M.S. 27-9-24 Lat-Away)

Provenance:

ex A.D. Hamilton (1985)

ex R.M. Kirton collection

 

WSC-7551:  James III Hammered Silver Scottish Groat.  Type VI, main issue of 1484-88.  Edinburgh mint.  Spink 5288.  24mm, 3.83g.  Crowned aged 9, the Scots lost Berwick to keep the peace with England but gained Orkney and the Shetland Isles as a part dowry (which makes you wonder what the other part of the dowry was!) when James married Margaret of Denmark (she was just 13).  James III was so unpopular due to his lifestyle and blind insistence upon a policy of pursuing an alliance with the Kingdom of England that he was, perhaps inevitably, murdered after his defeat at Sauchieburn.  Toned and with a stain on the reverse.  Sold with a detailed information slip.  Extremely good grade for issue.  £1,395

 

 

Penny

 

WSC-7698:  Scottish James III Hammered Copper Three-Penny Penny.  Formally regarded as an Ecclesiastical “Crossraguel” issue of Bishop Kennedy.  Spink 5309.  If you’re interested, the Scottish had a penchant for naming coins from the actual coin legends (the Nonsunt under Mary springs to mind) and this is no exception.  James III was an interesting individual.  Crowned aged 9, the Scots lost Berwick to keep the peace with England but gained Orkney and the Shetland Isles as a part dowry (which makes you wonder what the other part of the dowry was!) when James married Margaret of Denmark (she was just 13).  James III was so unpopular due to his lifestyle and blind insistence upon a policy of pursuing an alliance with the Kingdom of England that he was, perhaps inevitably, murdered after his defeat at Sauchieburn.  Struck on a generous flan with a nice grade reverse.  £245

 

WSC-7722:  James III Scottish Hammered Billon Silver Penny.  Billon coinage, 1475-82, Edinburgh mint.  Facing bust with three fleurs to the crown – Spink 5302.  Although only Fine, this is probably one of the top grade extant examples.  The Spink example (similar for type) is outstanding but this is a rounder coin with more detail overall.  Sold with old tickets – ex Daniels (a remarkable ticket), purchased 1940’s? for 2 shillings, ex Spink, 2007, £325 + commissions, ex Phil Higginson collection.  A very rare coin in this grade.  £595

 

 

 

James IV

 

 

 

James V

 

WSC-6799:  James V Scottish Stuart Hammered Billon Silver Bawbee.  Third coinage, 1538-42.  Struck at 0.250 silver fineness (earlier silver issues under “normal” times were struck at 0.833 silver fineness) although looking at this coin, you’d perhaps question if it really is that low.  Annulet over obverse I so Spink 5384.  1.89 grams, 23mm.  Rarer monarch.  £235

 

WSC-8037:  James V Scottish Hammered Silver Stuart Groat.  Second coinage (the first was just gold), 1526-39.  Type IIIc(i), Spink 5378.  Holyrood Abbey Mint.  James ascended the throne aged just one year old.  Coincidentally, upon her father's death, Mary (the future Mary Queen of Scots), James's only legitimate heir, was only seven days old when she ascended!  You'd be challenged to source average or lesser grade James V groat for under £1,000 these days - this coin is definitely not one of those.  A high grade example of one of the most attractive hammered silver coins ever to be issued, not just in Scotland but in the entire British Isles.  £1,335

Provenance:

ex Ramussen (2014)

ex R.M. Kirton collection

 

 

 

Mary

 

WSC-8019:  Choice 1558 Mary Queen of Scots Hammered Silver Testoon.  First period before marriage, 1542-58.  Type IIIb with the low-arched crown and no annulets below the M and the R, initial mark Crown.  Spink 5406.  No muling of the dates, which is unusual, and interestingly, clear evidence that the 155- part of the date on the obverse was on the die with the final digit, in this case an 8, being added later, and even some evidence that the same occurred on the reverse as there is a cap between the first three and the final digits.  Scottish coinage in general was a product of miniscule mintage figures compared to south of the border with extant examples disappearing even faster as a result of various currency recalls where coinage would be taken in to go into the melting pot upon the death of every old monarch to release silver for new monarch coinage.  There was also a huge recall of coinage in 1707 as a result of the Act of Union: £142,180 face value of hammered Scottish coinage and £96,856 face value of milled Scottish coinage was brought into the Edinburgh mint to be melted down and recoined.  Interestingly, £132,080 face value of foreign (non English, Irish or Scottish) was also handed in, highlighting just how bereft of physical coinage Scotland was at this time, and thus how rare Scottish coinage is today.  Once cleaned but now retoning nicely.  A very desirable coin indeed.  £1,495

Provenance:

Ex Libertas collection, purchased Oct 1980 for US $850

 

WSC-7828:  Mary Queen of Scots Hammered Billon Silver Bawbee.  Struck in the first period of Mary’s reign, 1542-58, Edinburgh mint.  Spink 5432.  Interestingly, not only was that period before her marriage, it was actually during the Regency period where the Earl of Aran was Regent while Mary was still under age – the reverse cinquefoils apparently acknowledge this.  Evenly toned, VF and about as struck.  A superb example from this iconic Scottish monarch.  £385

 

WSC-7692:  Mary Scottish Stuart Hammered Billon Silver Bawbee.  First period, 1542-58, before her marriage - remember, Mary was born December 1542.  Issue of ¾ alloy although looking much higher in the hand.  Edinburgh mint, plain saltire cross, Spink 5432.  Sold with a couple of old tickets (the most recent giving an incorrect Spink number) – see here.  One of the nicest examples of this issue that you’re ever likely to find for sale.  £425

 

WSC-7104:  Mary Queen of Scots Hammered Billon Silver Bawbee.  Struck in the first period of Mary’s reign, 1542-58, Edinburgh mint.  Interestingly, not only was that period before her marriage, it was actually during the Regency period where the Earl of Aran was Regent while Mary was still under age – the reverse cinquefoils apparently acknowledge this.  Evenly toned and VF with the usual flat areas.  Spink 5432.  Sold with a very detailed information slip.  £335

 

WSC-7209:  Mary, Queen of Scots, Hammered Silver Bawbee or Sixpence.  Struck in the first period of Mary’s reign, 1542-58, Edinburgh mint.  Interestingly, not only was that period before her marriage, it was actually during the Regency period where the Earl of Aran was Regent while Mary was still under age – the reverse cinquefoils apparently acknowledge this.  Spink 5432 - solid saltire cross.  £255

 

WSC-7587:  1557 Mary Queen of Scots Hammered Billon Siler Plack.  First period before Mary’s marriage, 1542-58.  Issue of ¾ (.750) alloy.  Spink 5437.  Circulated as a fourpenny piece.  £245

 

WSC-7822:  1559 Scottish Mary Queen of Scots Hammered Billon Silver Nonsunt.  A twelve penny groat struck in the second period, 1558-60, under both Mary and her husband, Francis.  It was an issue of half alloy (.5 fine) which was actually quite high considering the Lions of the same date which were 23/24 alloy - basically base metal.  The obverse crowned heraldic dolphin is facing left (it's my belief that left facing is the rarer of the two) so this is Spink 5448.  If you're scratching your head over the derivation of the term "nonsunt", look no further than the reverse legend.  A small hole at 12 o'clock.  As the ticket states, rarely seen these days.  £285

 

 

 

James VI

 

WSC-7701:  1575 Scottish James VI Hammered Silver Half Merk or Noble.  Second coinage, 6s 8d, Spink 5478.  A better date.  Ex Mark Rasmusson.  Very nice grade.  £395

 

WJC-7790:  1582 James VI Hammered Silver Ten Shillings.  Fourth coinage, Spink 5490, Edinburgh mint, although there is a 1585 extant document referring to “pestilence at the Edinburgh mint” and thus the need to strike coinage at Dundee and Perth.  This series (40s, 30s, 20s and this 10s) is considered to be one of the finest examples of monarchical depiction and it is certainly a dramatic departure from the norm in terms of what went before.  The trouble was, this was all new to the die sinkers of the day and so whilst the end product at the mint was of adequate quality, after an extremely short period in circulation (and remember, Scottish circulation was much more intense than south of the border due to lack of sufficient coinage physically in circulation), the inadequate, shallow dies quickly became apparent through the quality of the coinage.  Lessons were seemingly learnt as the seventh coinage adopted a toned-down, more traditional depiction of the king.  £465

 

WSC-8050:  1594 James VI Scottish Hammered Silver Five Shillings.  Seventh coinage, bare-headed bust of James VI (future James 1st of England) wearing armour; crowned triple-headed thistle.  Spink 5494.  Wavy flan, presumed creased and straightened in antiquity.  Considered one of the best designs, front and back, of any Scottish or British coin.  £325

 

WSC-7413:  James VI Scottish Hammered Silver Eightpenny Groat.  Coinage of 1583-90, being before James VI took on the English throne after the death of Elizabeth 1st in 1604.  Edinburgh mint.  An issue of 0.25 fineness.  Not quite as good as the better example I have listed but certainly getting there.  £185

 

WSC-7656:  1602 James VI Scottish Stuart Hammered Silver Full Merk.  Eighth coinage, Spink 5497.  Rarer 13 shilling, 4 pence denomination with a very clear date.  £265

 

WSC-8063:  Scottish James VI Hammered Silver 30 Shillings.  Initial mark Thistle.  The rarer Type II variety - Spink 5504.  £345

 

 

 

Charles 1st

 

Silver

 

WSC-7871:  Charles 1st Scottish 30 Shillings.  Third coinage, intermediate issue, 1637-42.  14.76g, 6h.  SCBI 35, 1457 (same dies), Spink 5554, Bull 7 (this coin illustrated).  Initial mark Thistle both sides.  An intermediate issue falling between Briot and Falconer although the horse is a Briot style horse.  Ex Colonel Morrieson (1987 - acquired from a Spink sale of that same year), ex Maurice Bull.  Old tickets here and here.  An interesting contemporary political defacement in the form of a scrape on the king on this otherwise Good VF grade coin.  £1,795

 

WSC-6015:  Scottish Charles 1st Hammered Silver Twelve Shillings.  Third coinage, 1637 – 1642.  Falconer’s second issue, type IV.  Spink 5563.  The coin is sold with a very old ticket, possibly WW2 period, stating that this coin was purchased for twenty five shillings.  £325

 

WSC-7744:  1625 Charles 1st Scottish Hammered Silver Six Shillings.  First coinage, first date in series, Spink 5543.  This is an excessively rare issue – Charles’ Scottish coronation didn’t happen until 1633 and no new dies were produced until then.  Dies of James VI were altered, under an official directive, and coinage was issued as Charles 1st using the old, modified dies  This resulted in the Twelve Shilling and Six Shilling coins literally having a bust of James VI on the front with just a quick name change to the legend and a tweak or two to the beard.  This Charles 1st Six Shilling issue, along with the James VI Six Shilling issue, often goes well under the radar with many people think these coins are simply English dated sixpences.  I refer the reader to the Scottish James VI section of this website for extra information.  You might be thinking that this isn’t much of a coin to look at and just looking at it, you’d be correct.  However, nice grade examples do not turn up simply because this issue was generally poorly struck using modified, often worn-out dies.  The Spink plate coin is a £5,000+ coin.  This is one of the rarest Charles 1st Scottish silver coin issues, if not the rarest.  I’d be surprised if this coin didn’t attract a buyer very quickly.  £1,245 RESERVED (M.He.9-5-22 Lay-Away)

 

WSC-8147:  Charles 1st Stuart Scottish Hammered Silver Two Shillings.  A final and thus very late fourth issue of 1642, right in the middle of the Civil War, or specifically, the first of three Civil Wars for this period.  Large II behind the bust, no mark for Briot - Spink 5593.  Interestingly, the Scottish had fought in support of the English Parliamentarians in the First English Civil War, but sent an army in support of Charles I into England during the Second English Civil War.  The timeline is 1642-6 (1st), 1648 (2nd) and 1649-51 (3rd).  If you're wondering what happened in "the year off" of 1647, well, in 1646 Charles surrendered to the Scots, who handed him over to parliament. He escaped to the Isle of Wight in 1647 and encouraged discontented Scots to invade for the 1648 leg.  A seldom seen coin, and one that almost never turns up in better than Fine condition - just ook at the poor example Spink use as their plate coin.  All the more interesting due to it's late date.  £265

 

WSC-7910:  1637-42 Charles 1st Scottish 40 Pence.  Third coinage, Falconer issue.  Spink 5579.  The 40 pence is much harder to find than the 20 pence but more than that, the grade is excellent for issue - collectors will be aware how badly this denomination fared during the last 370 years.  This is one of the best examples I've ever had.  Provenance going right back to July 1951.  Rare thus.  £325

 

WSC-6946:  Scottish Charles 1st UNRECORDED Hammered Silver Forty Pence.  Third coinage, Briot-Falconer transitional issue of 1637-42 with an F (for Falconer) modified from a B (for Briot) below the reverse thistle.  At first glance this appears to be a standard B below the reverse thistle, so Spink 5576.  However, it’s clearly an F, modified from the earlier B – note the slightly bulbous top vertical and the very start of the bottom bulbous part of the B protruding slightly from the centre, these being the only aspects of the underlying B.  Everything else about this letter is an F.  See the following image, although please note that all letters have been rotated to the upright for ease of use.  There actually is no Falconer 40 pence recorded with an F below, only the B below.  However, Briot’s Spink 5576 with a B below is a B lying on its back, facing upwards, whilst this letter is 180 degrees rotated and facing downwards.  It’s an F for Falconer and as such, unrecorded.  Falconer naturally followed on from Briot during the Third Coinage of Charles 1st Scottish coins so this coin would appear to be a very rare transition from Briot to Falconer.  You’d think that one engraver would be highly unlikely to basically take his predecessor’s dies, churn out coinage and then call them his own by way of putting his mark on them and doing nothing else.  However, Nicholas Briot was appointed master of the Scottish mint in 1634 and later joined by his son-in-law, John Falconer, who eventually succeeded him in 1646.  By keeping things in the family and having an organic “passing on of the baton”, it becomes much more plausible that Falconer did the above.  An interesting coin; potentially the “missing link” between Briot and Falconer.  Perhaps it will be termed Third Coinage, type IIA as it certainly comes before Falconer’s first recorded type III.  £395

 

WSC-7880:  Charles 1st Scottish Hammered Silver 40 Pence with Excellent Provenance.  Third coinage, type 1 Briot issue, Spink 5579.  See old tickets here: Burns p.462/14 but different dies, Murray O6/Rf.  Ex Cochran-Patrick (his old ticket), sold to Seaby 1950.  An uncommon denomination, seeming getting rarer by the day, but more importantly, bearing in mind the usual poor, damaged state these 40d coins usually turn up in, a very good grade example - given as VF by old tickets.  A rare opportunity to acquire not only a good grade Scottish Stuart coin, but one with long provenance.  £345

 

WSC-7674:  Stuart Charles 1st Scottish Hammered Silver Forty Pence.  Third coinage, 1637-42, type 1 using Briot dies.  Spink 5577.  There were five types in the third coinage – three for Falconer, one intermediate but only one for Briot.  A much rarer denomination compared to the twenty pence.  Generally a poor issue, this being one of the best grade examples I’ve had.  £255

 

WSC-6989:  Charles 1st Hammered Silver Scottish Twenty Pence.  The rarer second coinage (Briot’s hammered issue) of 1636 only, not to be confused with the later third coinage.  Spink 5550.  Sold with an old dealer’s ticket together with an information slip and an annotated coin envelope.  £145

 

WSC-5367:  Scotland Charles 1st Hammered Silver Twenty Pence.  Third coinage, 1637 – 42.  Briot’s machine made issue.  £95

 

WSC-7911:  1637-42 Charles 1st Scottish 20 Pence.  Third coinage, Falconer issue.  Spink 5591.  Provenance going right back to July 1955.  Good grade for issue.  £195

 

 

 

Copper

 

WSC-6874:  Scottish Charles 1st Copper Turner.  Earl of Stirling coinage, 1632-39.  Spink 5598.  Part of a single deceased collection put together from the 1960's onwards with this ticket looking to be dated 1989.  Type 1c with im flower over lozenge.  £48

 

 

 

Milled Coinage

 

Charles II

 

Silver

 

WJC-7046:  1669 Charles II Scottish Silver Half Merk.  6s, 8d, struck under the first coinage.  Spink 5614.  Rarer en medaille die axis.  £165

 

WSC-6688:  1670 Charles II Scottish Silver Merk.  First coinage.  Interesting for two reasons: 1. There is a colon after the date and 2. The die axis is 85 degrees which is noted in Spink (p96) as considerably rarer than the standard 180 or en medaille die axis types.  £185

 

WSC-7096:  Charles II 1670 Scottish Milled Half Merk or 6s, 8d.  First coinage, Spink 5614.  Three factors elevate this coin above most others: a) High grade for issue, b) The die axis is a rare and bazaar 90 degrees and c) There are no obverse stops (a rare variety recorded by Spink).  Both an interesting and rare offering.  £435

 

WSC-6455:  1671 Charles II Scottish Silver Merk.  First coinage.  Interesting for two reasons: 1. The grade is much better than usually seen and 2. The die axis is 85 degrees which is noted in Spink (p96) as considerably rarer than the standard 180 or en medaille die axis types.  £225

 

WSC-6697:  1672 Charles II Scottish Silver HALF Merk.  First coinage.  Spink 5614.  Above average for issue.  £125

 

WSC-7284:  1677/6 Scottish Charles II Milled Silver Quarter Dollar.  Second coinage, Sir John Falconer, Master of the Mint issue.  A machine-made issue with the machinery to facilitate this obtained from London in 1675.  Spink 5620.  Rarely found in better grade than this and often (usually) found in worse grade.  Scottish coinage of this period was in short supply and thus usage was high.  £295

 

WSC-6096:  1677 Charles II Scottish Silver 1/16th Dollar.  Second coinage, Sir John Falconer, Master of the Mint issue.  A machine-made issue with the machinery to facilitate this obtained from London in 1675. Interestingly, the only denomination in the series to have a reverse Saltire Cross.  High grade for issue.  Spink 5624.  £325

 

WSC-7105:  1680 Charles II Scottish Silver Eighth Dollar.  Second coinage, Sir John Falconer, Master of the Mint issue.  A machine-made issue with the machinery to facilitate this obtained from London in 1675.  Spink 5622.  180 degree die axis.  £110

 

WSC-5838:  1682 over 1680 Scottish Charles II Silver ¼ Dollar.  Second coinage, Sir John Falconer, Master of the Mint issue.  A machine-made issue with the machinery to facilitate this obtained from London in 1675.  Good grade for issue.  £235

 

 

Copper

 

WSC-6657:  1677 Scottish Charles II Turner / Bodle.  The first date in only a three year issue.  Better grade for issue, being actually better than the Spink plate coin, and benefiting from being the rarer LAESSET error issue.  Spink 5632 (£200 in the 2015 guide).  A desirable coin.  £125

 

WSC-6666:  1677 Scottish Charles II Turner / Bodle.  The first date in only a three year issue.  Better grade for issue, being actually better than the Spink plate coin.  Spink 5630 (£135 in the 2015 guide).  £55

 

WSC-6650:  1677 Scottish Charles II Copper Bawbee or Sixpence.  First date in only a three year issue.  Spink 5628.  Better grade for issue, being about as good as the Spink plate coin.  £75

 

WSC-6651:  1678 Scottish Charles II Copper Bawbee or Sixpence.  Second date in only a three year issue.  Spink 5628.  Better grade for issue, being nearly as good as the Spink plate coin.  £65

 

WSC-6652:  1679 Scottish Charles II Copper Bawbee or Sixpence.  Third and rarest date in only a three year issue.  Spink 5628.  Better grade for issue, being nearly as good as the Spink plate coin.  £65

 

 

 

James VII

 

WSC-7979:  1687 James VII Milled Scottish Silver Ten Shillings.  Laureate bust right, 10 below; St Andrew's cross with National emblems in angles.  The very last Stuart king.  Although a very short reign (James's insistence on converting to Catholicism was his obvious undoing), the Scottish coins are even shorter, all being just 1687 and 1688.  We all know that James VII of Scotland was the one and same James II of England but it is interesting to note that all Scottish coins (and to be fair, there aren't many for James VII, even counting the spurious 60 shillings) have James II (IACOBVS II) as the obverse legend start.  South of the border, these coins would have circulated at one shilling.  £285

 

 

 

William & Mary

 

WJC-7475:  HIGH GRADE and CHOICE 1691 William & Mary Scottish Copper Bawbee.  Circulated at a sixpence.  En medaille die rotation.  Dublin.  An act of Privy Council in August 1691 authorised a small issue of copper coins (Bawbees and Bodles combined), being up to 500 stones in weight or less per year, but never to be exceeded.  This act carried on when Mary died into the reign of William II, but effectively, these were the last Scottish copper coins to date. Initial mark Cross of Five Pellets (many people don’t even realise these things have initial marks as the grade seen dictates there is usually nothing to be seen!), Spink 5666.  Collectors will be aware that you hardly ever come across Bawbees (of any reign) in VF – they were from soft metal and simply did not survive the rigours of circulation.  Further, the obverse dies of William & Mary bawbees specifically were simply not up to the job as there was too much design to engrave with the conjoined busts to give a good result.  The trick with these things is to look at the reverse of any coins in order to gauge the grade as often, as in this case, the obverse side would have left the mint fairly close to how it looks in this coin, ie not a patch on the reverse.  This coin is approaching EF for issue.  One or two bawbees of this grade recently came up in Heritage Auctions where they all achieved four figure prices.  I don’t expect to ever have Bawbees of this quality ever again – they are that rare.  £695

 

WJC-7476:  HIGH GRADE and CHOICE 1692 William & Mary Scottish Copper Bawbee.  Circulated at a sixpence.  180 degree die rotation.  Dublin.  An act of Privy Council in August 1691 authorised a small issue of copper coins (Bawbees and Bodles combined), being up to 500 stones in weight or less per year, but never to be exceeded.  This act carried on when Mary died into the reign of William II, but effectively, these were the last Scottish copper coins to date. Initial mark Two Small Trefoils, (many people don’t even realise these things have initial marks as the grade seen dictates there is usually nothing to be seen!), Spink 5668.  Collectors will be aware that you hardly ever come across Bawbees (of any reign) in VF – they were from soft metal and simply did not survive the rigours of circulation.  Further, the obverse dies of William & Mary bawbees specifically were simply not up to the job as there was too much design to engrave with the conjoined busts to give a good result.  The trick with these things is to look at the reverse of any coins in order to gauge the grade as often, as in this case, the obverse side would have left the mint fairly close to how it looks in this coin, ie not a patch on the reverse.  This coin is EF for issue – Spink don’t think any coins in this grade exist for this year, as evidenced in Spink 2020.    One or two bawbees of this grade, possibly not quite as good as this one in particular, recently came up in Heritage Auctions where they all achieved four figure prices.  I don’t expect to ever have Bawbees of this quality ever again – they are that rare.  £895

 

WJC-7478:  HIGH GRADE, CHOICE & VERY, VERY RARE 1692 DOUBLE DATED William & Mary Scottish Copper Bawbee.  Circulated at a sixpence.  En medaille die rotation.  Dublin.  This is the extremely rare 1692 error which left the mint with the date on BOTH SIDES.  It is the ‘…ET 1692 REGINA’ error under Spink 5666.  An act of Privy Council in August 1691 authorised a small issue of copper coins (Bawbees and Bodles combined), being up to 500 stones in weight or less per year, but never to be exceeded.  This act carried on when Mary died into the reign of William II, but effectively, these were the last Scottish copper coins to date. Initial mark Vertical Line of Three Pellets – unrecorded in Spink – (many people don’t even realise these things have initial marks as the grade seen dictates there is usually nothing to be seen!).  Collectors will be aware that you hardly ever come across Bawbees (of any reign) in VF – they were from soft metal and simply did not survive the rigours of circulation.  Further, the obverse dies of William & Mary bawbees specifically were simply not up to the job as there was too much design to engrave with the conjoined busts to give a good result.  The trick with these things is to look at the reverse of any coins in order to gauge the grade as often, as in this case, the obverse side would have left the mint fairly close to how it looks in this coin, ie not a patch on the reverse.  This coin is nearly EF for issue but there are no better grade examples known for this rare double date error.  One or two bawbees of this grade, possibly not quite as good as this one in particular, and certainly not as rare as this variety, recently came up in Heritage Auctions where they all achieved four figure prices.  I don’t expect to ever have Bawbees of this quality & rarity ever again – they are that rare.  £995

 

WSC-7908:  1692 William & Mary Scottish Silver 10 Shillings.  Conjoined busts, GRATIA legend, small 10 under the busts - Spink 5661.  If you’re wondering why it is that Scottish coinage always seems to be worn to within an inch of its life, it’s because even though Scotland’s population was thin on the ground compared to England’s, the coinage minted wasn’t nearly enough to go around.  Also, the Scottish economy was such that coinage wasn’t secreted away for a rainy day – it was used repeatedly simply to survive.  This is a very nice coin indeed for issue, being fairly comparable with the Spink plate coin for 5660, which was the very best they could find from their not-so-little black book of contacts.  £445

 

 

 

William II

 

WSC-6921:  1697 William II of Scotland Silver Five Shillings.  A rare example of a Scottish five shillings – the vast majority of the few you see will invariably be Queen Anne.  A high grade example, being the best I've ever seen and by some margin.  Spink 5688.  You are not seeing much wear on this coin, rather poor dies / inadequate pressure at the minting stage on the large definition areas, ie the king's bust.  Please ignore the aberration of a main image in terms of colouring (I may well need a new camera soon!) and use this image to see the even colouring throughout.  £650 in EF in the Spink 2020 price guide (already quite out of date).  There are certainly EF areas to this coin.  The English (ie Norman) William I and William II were not the same person as the Scottish William I, but Scottish William II and English William III were indeed the same person!!  A very rare coin in this grade.  £395

 

 

 

1700’s Church “Communion Tokens” (20% max off all marked prices when you buy 2 or more Communion Tokens!!)

 

WSC-5472:  1748 Scottish Communion Church Token.  A very early date indeed.  Dull, Perthshire.  Burzinski 3585 (image annotation for B number is incorrect).  Rare.  £25

 

WSC-5473:  1793 Scottish Communion Church Token.  An early date.  Dull, Perthshire.  Burzinski 5029 (image annotation for B number is incorrect).  £25

 

WSC-4730:  1796 Scottish Communion Church token.  An early date.  Rare.  £25

 

WSC-5700:  1700’s Scottish Communion Church Token.  Mortlack, Banffshire.  Burzinski 4515.  £25

 

WSC-5701:  1700’s Scottish Communion Church Token.  Millbrex, Aberdeenshire.  Burzinski 4512.  £25

 

WSC-5702:  1790 Scottish Communion Church Token.  Craigend, Perthshire.  Minister Robert Forsyth.  Burzinski 1262.  £25

 

H174: 1700's Scottish Communion Token "LK" - Apparently Unrecorded in Burzinski.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H173: 1700's Scottish Communion Token - Berwickshire - Burzinski 6841.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H031: 1791 Scottish Communion Token - Leith, Lothians, Burzinski 4197.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H007: 1775 Scottish Communion Token - Lochgoilphead, Argyll, Burzinski 4167.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

WSC-5943:  1700’s Scottish Communion Church Token.  Lairg, Sutherland.  Burzinski 4067.  £25

 

WSC-5944:  1799 Scottish Communion Church Token.  Liff & Benvie, Angus.  Burzinski 4269.  £25

 

 

1800’s Church “Communion Tokens” (20% max off all marked prices when you buy 2 or more Communion Tokens!!)

 

WSC-5698:  1871 Scottish Communion Church Token.  Leven, Fife.  Minister John S. Hyslop.  Burzinski 4248.  £25

 

H180: 1800's Scottish Communion Token - St Ninians, North Leith, Burzinski 5280.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H168: 1843 Scottish Communion Token - Monzie, Perthshire - Burzinski 4974.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H167: 1835 Scottish Communion Token - Leitholm, Berwickshire - Burzinski 4206.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H112: 1850 Scottish Communion Token - Musselburgh, Lothians - Burzinski 5108.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H111: 1838 Scottish Communion Token - Dalkeith, Lothians - Burzinski 1858.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H078: 1801 Scottish Communion Token - Mains & Strathmartine - Burzinski 4594.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H073: 1802 Scottish Communion Token - Madderty, Perthshire - Burzinski 4581.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25

 

H034: 1827 Scottish Communion Token - Kinnell, Angus, Burzinski 3832.  See image for details.  Old collection piece.  £25