This week’s fresh listings:

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Additions to www.HistoryInCoins.com for weeks commencing Tuesday 11th August 2026

A small Mary, Queen of Scots tribute (slightly delayed due to a holiday - mine, not hers!),

this date being just after late July in 1567, some 459 years ago, when Mary was compelled to

abdicate the Scottish throne in favour of her thirteen-month-old son,

the future James VI of Scotland and

the future James 1st of England.

WSC-9391: 1553 Rare Mary and Francis Scottish Brass Medal. The letters FM, united in a monogram under a crown, two estoiles either side. DILIGITE IVSTICIAM 1553 (love justice). Reverse has the shield of Scotland, crowned. DELICIE DNI COR HVMILE (the delight of the Lord is a humble heart). Likely of French manufacture, which is not at all surprising considering close ties between Scotland and France. Medallic Illustrations (i) 65/5 - listed Rare. This medal was actually considered to be an actual coin, albeit over 150 years ago. However, the date of 1553 is x5 years before the marriage of Mary to the Dauphin, Francis so obviously not a coin. Mary was ten years old in mid 1553 (she had been queen from the age of seven days), which is a recorded date when Mary's household was upgraded to "an establishment of a more regal and extended character". This medal would appear to be an integral part of that process. These arrangements are recorded as being completed by the end of 1553. I suspect there is some silver in the base alloy as the medal has a definite pale, silvery appearance. At 86.6 grains (5.61g), this medal is exactly the same weight as the single example held by the British Museum. A charming momento of the ever popular Mary, Queen of Scots. £465

WSC-9392: 1558 Mary Queen of Scots Hammered Silver Testoon. First period, 1542-58, before her marriage, type IIIb, S.R.5406. Edinburgh mint, initial mark Crown. This very year saw Mary marry the Dauphin, Francis, aged just fifteen. Of remarkably high grade for any issue, English or otherwise, but all the more so for being Scottish. Better than the S.R. plate coin, that being the very best example our friends at S.R. could find to use as their plate coin with all the famous collections they must have access to. 5.77g. Rare in this grade. £1,185

Provenance:

ex Spink

WSC-9393: 1559 Mary and Francis Scottish Hammered Silver Nonsunt. Second period, 1558-60, with Mary married to the Dauphin (heir apparent to the French throne), Francis, aged just 15. Francis was even younger, being just 14. The dolphin - very much a nod to the actual Dauphin - faces right on this coin indicating that it emanates from dies struck before the 1559 dolphin-looking-left issue. S.R.5447. The term "Nonsunt" derives from a play on the reverse inscription: IAM NON SVNT DVO SED VNA CAR ("They are no more twain, but one flesh"), which is biblical reference from the Gospel of Matthew celebrating the act of marriage. The early 1st and 2nd periods, immediately prior to Mary's first widowhood in 1660, issued billon coinage. This twelvepenny groat - something of an oxymoron in that a groat traditionally means x4 pence - was issued at 0.5 alloy, explaining the poor state of preservation of extant examples today. However, if you think that's bad, the contemporary Mary Lion or Hardhead, including not one but two dolphins, was struck at 23/24 alloy which even Henry VIII, famous for literally embezzling the country and population, never came close to achieving south of the border. Nonsunts are bizarrely difficult to source these days. A much above average example. £495

Provenance:

ex Paul & Bente Withers

ex John Williams collection

WSC-9394: 1544 Mary Queen of Scots Rarer Hammered Silver STIRLING Bawbee. Billon issue, first period before Mary's marriage to the Dauphin, Francis, 1542-58. Much rarer Stirling mint. This issue with a distinctive and very different Cross Potent with a cross in each angle reverse, being struck 1544 for Mary of Guise - known also as Mary of Lorraine - the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1544, Mary of Guise was actively manoeuvring for political power during the turbulent minority of her infant daughter, Mary. Both Mary of Guise and the Scottish population at the time had become dissatisfied with the way the regent, James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran, was running the country. Mary of Guise had, in 1544, attempted to take power from Arran but that same year, a compromise was made where Arran retained the regency but accepted Mary of Guise's demands for the stabilisation of Scotland against English attacks. This coin was struck in that very same year, presumably by the disgruntled James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran in an attempt to "rid him of this thorn in his side". S.R.5434. A rare coin, rarer still in this nVF grade. £850

Provenance:

old ticket, £250

ex Spink

WSC-9395: 1579 Mary Queen of Scots AE Medal. Undated and unsigned but firmly 1579 in date and likely a French issue for distribution in France and Scotland. Obverse: Shield of France and Scotland, impaled and crowned, legend: MARIA.D.G.FRANCOR.SCOTOR.REGINA (Mary, by the grace of God, Queen of the French and Scots). Reverse: a hand from the clouds, pruning a withered branch, legend: VIRESCIT.VVLNERE.VIRTVS (virtue flourished through the wound). Clearly a medal struck after Mary left the throne to her son, James VI, in 1567. Incidentally, very much in the Scottish tradition of children (often babies) ruling the country, James was only one year old when his mother was forced to abdicate. This medal is part of a series, all struck in 1579, none of which commemorating any particular event, but preaching patience under afflictions, just as Virtue flourishes under sufferings. Incidentally, Mary herself embroidered this very same device and motto upon a cushion which she sent in September 1569, from Wingfield Manor, post abdication, to Lesley, Bishop of Ross. It also occurs on a silver-gilt bell which belonged to Mary. Medallic Illustrations (i) 129/79. A charming momento of the ever popular Mary, Queen of Scots, and perhaps a small insight into the mindset of Mary as she lived in captivity across various English castles and manor houses for 19 years after she was forced to abdicate, supervised by the English Queen Elizabeth 1st. Rare. £395

WSC-9396: 1579 Mary Queen of Scots SILVER Medal. Likely a French issue for distribution in France and Scotland. Obverse: Shield of France and Scotland, impaled and crowned, legend: MARIA.D.G. SCOTOR.REGINA.FRAN.DOI (Mary, by the grace of God, Queen of Scots, Dowager of France). Reverse: a vine, one branch withered, the other receiving water from an urn above, in the clouds, legend: MEA.SIC.MIHI.PROSVNT (thus are my own profitable to me). Clearly a medal struck after Mary left the throne to her son, James VI, in 1567. Incidentally, very much in the Scottish tradition of children (often babies) ruling the country, James was only one year old when his mother was forced to abdicate. This medal is part of a series, all struck in 1579, none of which commemorating any particular event, but this one supposed to express the bitterness of Mary's feelings at the conduct of James VI, her son, who strengthened himself by diverting the revenues to his own use. Note that in 1579, James would be only 13 years of age so it would be harsh of Mary to directly accuse James of this undertaking. A counter theory is that the medal was expressive of the benefit she received from the dews of heaven, which Mary piously considered her own. A charming momento of the ever popular Mary, Queen of Scots, and perhaps a small insight into the mindset of Mary as she lived in captivity across various English castles and manor houses for 19 years after she was forced to abdicate, supervised by the English Queen Elizabeth 1st. Rare. £675