to be properly Medals 1. The King in Bust crown'd holding a Sword in one Hand and an Olive-branch in the other beneath which In utrumque paratus 1575. Circumscribed Jacobus 6. Dei Gra. Rex Scotor R. The Scotch Shield crown'd Parcere subjectis debellare superbos W. 1 Ounce 2. Another of the same Stamp Size and Weight struck in 1576. 3. The King's Effigies laureat Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum R. A branch'd Thistle with six Heads the uppermost crown'd betwixt the two Letters of J and R both crown'd under the Thistle the Figure 6. Nemo me impune lacesset 1590. W. 1 Ounce 4. The King and Queen with a Crown above their Heads Jacobus 6. Anna D. G. Scotorum Rex Regina R. The whole Arms and Atchievement of the Kingdom of Scotland In Defence W. 2 Oun. 12 Dr. The other more ordinary and current Golden Coins of this Reign are 1. The King bare-headed Jacobus 6. Dei Gra. Ren Scotorum R. The Scotch Shield crown'd betwixt 15 and 80. Exurgat Deus dissip Inimici ejus W. 3 Dr. 2. J R with a Crown above placed four times in the Field cross-wise with the Letter S in the Center Deus Judicium tuum Regi da. 1 88 R. The Scottish Crest being a Lion crown'd holding a Sword and Scepter Post 5. 100 Proa Invicta manent has W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr. 3. Half of this coin'd in 1584. W. 1 Dr. 27 Gr. 4. Another of the like coin'd in 1587. W. 1 Dr. 21 Gr. 5. A Quarter of the same 1584 W. 27 Gr. 6. The King in a strange Cap behind a Thistle-head Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum R. A. Lion crown'd holding up a Scepter to the Clouds in which are the Hebrew Letters of Jehovah Te solum Vereor 1591. W. 2 Dr. 9 Gr. 7. Another of the same Size Weight and Stamp coin'd in 1593. 8. The King on Horse-back in Armour under his Horse 1593. Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum R. The Scotch Shield crown'd Spero Meliora W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr. This is what in the Dutch Books of Ordinances for Money and elsewhere is call'd the Scotch Rider and was long the most common Gold Coin of this Country Pieces of the same Weight Impression c. with this as likewise half of the same having been coin'd in 1594 95 96 97 98 99 1600 and 1601. To these the Statute of his Fifteenth (a) Dec. 19 1597. cap. 249. Parliament refers which ordains That fine Gold of 22 Carats fine pass at 30 l. the Ounce and that out of every such Ounce there be coin'd six Five-pound-pieces or twelve Fifty-shilling-pieces 9. The Scotch Shield crown'd Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum R. A Sword and Scepter plac'd cross-wise In the upper Quarter a Crown a Thistle-head in each of the next and 1601 in the lowest Salus Populi Suprema Lex W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr. Tho' this Piece commonly call'd the Scotch Angel be of the same Weight and intrinsic Value with the Former yet it was coin'd to go at 6 l. the Value of Silver being now risen from 50 s. to 60 s. by the Ounce which of Necessity enhanc'd the Rate of Gold in the like Proportion 10. The Half of these W. 1 Dr. 9 Gr. carrying the same Impression This was the last Gold coin'd before the happy Union of the Crowns in King James VI. and we are not for the Present to bring our Enquiries any lower I have seen an (b) MS. in Bibl. ICC. Edinb Extract of the Register of the Mint from December 1601 to December 1602 whereby it appears That there was that Year coin'd at Edinburgh 119 Stone of Gold and 986 Stone of Silver I have also read That in the (c) In Atchison's MS. Tr. of Metals Beginning of this King's Reign a golden Basin of the Contents of four English Quarts was presented by the Regent Morton to the French King fill'd with coin'd Pieces of Gold call'd Unicorns both the Money and the Vessel being made of the native Gold of Scotland Such Pieces I never saw To one that considers how few English Coins we have of about Half a Score of our Kings next after the Conquest it Silver will not look strange that the Silver-money of our neighbouring Kingdom of the like Age is not now very plentiful The oldest that even Mr. Sutherland himself has been hitherto able to discover is a Penny of Alexander the First 's which yet he is not very sure but it may belong to one of the other two Princes of that Name For the better and more skilful distinguishing the ancient Silver Coins of Scotland these Preliminary Cautions which I have from a very (d) RR. D D. Archiep. Ebor. great Hand will be found to be of mighty Use 1. The Merchants Weights in Scotland are different from ours sixteen Pounds Troy as several Acts of Parliament have provided going to the Stone and every such Pound being divided into sixteen Ounces But their Silver-weights are the same their Ounce-pieces exactly agreeing with ours How their Standard or the Fineness of the Metal has vary'd from ours or agreed with it will be observed in the several Reigns below 2. The Sums by which the Scots always computed and do still compute are the same with ours they reckoning by Farthings Half-pence Pence Shillings Merks and Pounds as we do and all those Sums bearing the same Proportion to one another as ours do That is a Shilling contains twelve Pennies a Merk thirteen Shillings and four Pence a Pound twenty Shilling c. But there has been a great Difference in the two Nations at several Seasons as to the value of those Sums At first perhaps the Scotch Pieces being of the same Weight and Denomination with the English might also be current at the same Rate with ours But from the Beginning of King James the First 's Reign which is as high as their printed Statutes will carry us it was otherwise and the Difference increas'd in the following Reigns as will appear presently 3. There 's no doubt but that for a long Time the coin'd Pieces of Silver in Scotland as well as England were only Pence and Half-pence After which came in Groats and Half-groats and by Degrees larger Pieces of even an Ounce two Thirds of an Ounce c. David I. I have a small Pieee which I take to be a Half-penny of David the First 's It weighs 14 Grains which seems to come very near the Standard of that Time For thus if the Authority be good the Matter stands adjusted (e) Assis R. Dav. 1. cap. 1. Sterlingus debet ponderare 32 Gr. Uncia 21 d. Libra 26 s. 4 d. It bears a clumsy Half-face Crown and Scepter and David Dei Gratia· And the Reverse has Rex Scoturum about four hexagonal Stars The Regiam Majestatem if any thing will acquaint us with the Value of such a Piece when (f) Reg. Majest Lib. 4. cap. 40. v. 17 twenty five
Gr. and 1561. 9. Half of the same 10. The Queen dress'd in her Hair Maria Dei Gra. Scotorum Regina 1561 and 1562. R. Arms of France half effaced by those of Scotland the Shield crown'd and supported by two M M crown'd Salvum fac populum tuum Domine Half (b) Ibid. of both these 11. After her Return out of France she coin'd the large Pieces of an Ounce Weight On the first of these is the Shield of Scotland crown'd and supported by two Thistles Maria Henric s. Dei Gra. R. R. Scotorum R. A Palm-Tree crown'd with this Motto on a Schedule hung in it Dat Gloria Vires and subscrib'd 1565 and circumscrib'd Exurgat Deus Dissipent r. inimici ejus The same in 1566. Some call the Tree on the Reverse an Yew-Tree and report that there grew a famous one of that Kind in the Park or Garden of the Earl of Lennox which gave Occasion to the Impress Wherein the Tree being crown'd denotes the Advancement of the Lennox-Family by Henry Lord Darnley's Marriage with the Queen and the Lemma of Dat gloria vires is observ'd to comport very well with the Device This Piece went for Thirty Shillings there were at the same Time coin'd Pieces of two Thirds of an Ounce which went at 20 s. with some smaller of 10 s. and 5 s. All of 'em had the same Impression 12. After her second Husband's Death she coin'd other new Pieces of an Ounce Weight c. which agreed with the other in the Impression and every other Matter save that Henricus was now left out of the Style and the Date 1567 which we shall find to be same with the first coin'd Pieces of her Son There are several Medals in Silver struck in Remembrance of some great Passages of this Queen's Life One carries the Arms of France and Scotland crown'd with Maria D. G. Scotor Regina Fran. Dot. R. A Hand out of the Clouds pruneing off a dry'd Branch and Virescit Vulnere Virtus Another differs not from this on the Reverse but has the Scotch Shield single A Third bears as the first But the Reverse shews a Jugg of Water poured from the Clouds upon half a Tree flourishing the other half being dry'd and perish'd with Mea sic mihi prosunt subscrib'd 1579 A Fourth of the same Year carries a Ship in a Storm on a rough Sea with Sails rent and Masts broken but keeping steady with Nunquam nisi Rectam In other Parts not differing from the former A (c) Cum 4. praemissir p. D. Sutherland Fifth of about two Ounce-weight with the Queen's Picture to the Waste with a Breviary in her Hand inscrib'd O God grant Patience in that I suffer vrang The Reverse has this Inscription Quho can compare with me in Grief I die and dar nocht seile Relief Circumscrib'd after one Hand with a Heart in it ready to joyn with another Hourt not the Heart Quhois Joy thou art In the very Beginning of King James the Sixth's Reign James VI a Complaint is made in Parliament (d) Parl. 1. Ja. 6. cap. 13. Of the great Scarcity of good Money in Scotland the good Silver as Testons and other old Silver being utterly melted and destroy'd so that the Ounce of Silver is at double the Price it wont to be at whereupon it is declar'd that the King with the Advice of his Regent may coin Gold and Silver of such Fineness as other Countries do c. Accordingly among his Coins we have 1. The Thirty-Shilling-Piece of an Ounce Weight whereon is the Shield of Scotland crown'd and supported by the Letters J and R crown'd with Jacobus 6. Dei Gratia Rex Scotorum R. A drawn Sword with a Crown on its Point a Hand pointing to Three XXX for the Number of Shillings and the Date of 1567 set below and circumscrib'd with that generous Saying of the brave Trajan upon the Delivery of the Praetor's Sword Pro me Si mereor in me This is on all Hands agreed to be the Conceit of his Tutor G. Buchanan The like Pieces with those of 20 s. 10 s. and 5 s. differing only in a proportionable Weight and Size and their proper Figures of XX X and V were coin'd in the Years 1568 69 70 and 71. 2. A Scotch Shield crown'd with the Figures 3 and 4 on the Sides Jacobus 6. Dei Gratia Rex Scotorum R. Four capital IIII crown'd with two Crowns and two Thistles countercharg'd in the Quarters Salvum fac populum tuum Dne 1572. W. 2 Dr. 2 Gr. This is only half of one with the same Inscription in Mr. Sutherland's Collection only his has the Figures 6 and 8 which shews it to have been coin'd for a Noble whereas the other is only a Ten-Groat-Piece or 3 s. 4 d. continu'd yearly to 1577. 3. Shield crown'd and Jacobus 6. D. G. R. Scotorum 1591 1592. R. A naked Sword and Balance His differt Rege Tyrannus W. 2 Dw. 14 Gr. Half of the same 4. The Royal Shield of Scotland crown'd with the usual Inscription of Jacobus 6. Dei Gra. 1578 to 1581. On the Reverse the Thistle (e) Some of these have the Letter J and R on the Sides of the Thistle but the most want ' em with Nemo me impune lacesset W. 6 Dw. 19 Gr. The Mark-pieces of this Coin which were coin'd Twenty Years after this and were long current in England at the Rate of Thirteen-pence-half-penny want a Third of this Weight which 't was necessary they should do when the Ounce of Silver went at 60 s. Scotch whereas now it was only valu'd at 40 s. For this very Year Thomas Acheson and others are impower'd to coin Ten-shilling-pieces Four in the Ounce of Eleven-penny fine Silver From this Mint-master the Copper-pieces of Eight-pennies or Four Both-wel's Value pretty common in this and the former Reign had the Name of Achesons given them These in the Year 1587 were (f) So the MS. Calderwood in the Library at Glasgow Vol. 4. ad An. 87. cry'd down by Proclamation because Counterfeit in England and other foreign Parts But their Currency was afterwards reviv'd and continu'd on the English Borders as well as in Scotland even within my own Memory The Scots says (g) Itio Par. 1. p. 283. Fynes Moryson have of long Time had small Brass Coins which they say of late his Book was printed in 1617 are taken away Namely Babees esteem'd by them of old for Six-pence whereof two make an English Penny also Placks which they esteem'd for Four-pence but three of them make an English Penny also Hard-Heads esteem'd by them at one Penny half-penny whereof Eight made an English Penny 5. And the same Act directs that these new Pieces be such as are (h) Parl. 7. Ja. 6. Oct. 24. 1581. cap. 106. havand on th' ane Side the Portrature of his Majesty's Body armed with ane Crown upon his Head and ane Sword in his Hand with this Cirucmscription JACOBVS VI. DEI. GRATIA REX SCOTORVM and on the uther Side his Hieness Arms in ane Scheild with an Crown above the same Scheild with the Dait of the Zeir upon ane of the Sides with this Circumscription HONOR REGIS IVDICIVM DILIGIT There are 30 s. 20 s. and 5 s. Pieces as well as those here mention'd of 10 s. which were made in Pursuance of this Act and answer its Directions as to their proportionable Weight and Circumscription But furthermore on their Reverse they have the Letters J and R on the Sides of the Shield and a little under XL s. XXX s. XX s. c. according to the respective Value of the Piece 6. In the Thirty first Year of this Reign there was another (i) Parl. 15. Ja. 6. Dec. 19 1597. cap. 249. Act pass'd about Coinage wherein after a Complaint of the vile Practices of all Sorts of People in exorbitantly-raising the Value of Gold and Silver it is order'd that the Ounce of Silver coin'd in Ten-shilling-pieces c. according to the last recited shall stand at 50 s. and the old 30 s. Pieces that is the Ounce-pieces of Queen Mary and King James at the same Price and the new Thirty-shillings-pieces being three Quarters of an Ounce at 37 s. 6 d. This teaches us to discover the true Value of a Piece of this King's Coin of the exact Weight of one of our English Shillings bearing the King's Head without a Crown and Jacobus 6. D. Gra. c. R. A Thistle crown'd with Nemo me impune lacesset 1594. There is no (k) Ita RR. D. D. Archiep. Ebor. Doubt but this Piece was coin'd to go for Ten Shillings the Weight of it exactly answering that Value at the Rate of 50 s. in the Ounce Nor is it any Objection that this Piece was coin'd three Years before the passing of the said Act For Silver was rais'd to this Value before the Act as appears by its Preface and 't was its Design to hinder the farther raising of it by fixing it at the Price it then stood at I have the Half a Quarter and an Eighth of this Coin 7. Notwithstanding the Provision of this Act the Price of the Ounce of Silver was within Four Years advanc'd to Sixty Shillings For the Merk-pieces which were coin'd in 1601 to 1604 are proportion'd to that Rate They have on one Side the Shield of Scotland crown'd with Jacobus 6. D. Gra. Scotorum And on the Reverse the Thistle crown'd with Regem Jova Protegit W. 4 Dw. 9 Gr. There was also Half-merks and Quarter-merks of the same Coin the former passing at 6 s. 8 d. and the other at 3 s. 4 d. Nay there was also the Eighth of a Merk-piece which is the least Piece of coin'd Silver which I think was ever minted in the Kingdom of Scotland It weighs about Three-half pence of our English Money and goes for 20 d. Scotch which is one Sixth short of our Two-pence And these Merks with their Subdivisions were the last Silver-money coin'd by King James the Sixth before he left Edinburgh and remov'd to London FINIS
rose to 30 s. and she coin'd Placks of only 2 d. fine at 4 l. 16 s. the Ounce 2. Another Thing whereof I am to admonish the Reader is that he will find the Weight of the Gold and Silver in the following Account of the Coins of both Metals computed by different Standards In the former is observ'd that of the Goldsmiths of Edinburgh who divide their Ounce into sixteen Drops and their Drop into 36 Grains 27 of their Grains making our Penny-weight In weighing of the Silver Coins I have kept to our common English Weights by Ounces Penny-weights and Grains The Reason of this Difference is because all the Golden Coins are now in the Possession of my worthy and communicative Friend Mr. James Southerland who was pleas'd nicely to examine their several Weights by the Standard of his own Country Most of the Silver-pieces are in the Hands of the most Reverend Father in GOD the present Lord Archbishop of York and his Grace among the many generous Acts of Favour which I have had from him has kindly obliged me with his own most learned and curious Remarks upon ' em These two Things premis'd I begin the Scottish Coins in Gold These as I take it K. Rob. II. cannot be carry'd higher than the Sovereignty of the Royal Family of the Stewarts the eldest Golden Coin of Scotland seeming to be no older than the Reign of K. Robert the Second To this Prince I suppose belong the Three following 1. The Scotch Lyon within a Shield crowned a small Circle about the Shield and Robertus Dei Gracia Rex Scot. Rev. St. Andrew on the Cross betwixt two Flower-de-Lys's with Dns. Protector MS. Libera Weight 1 Dr. 9 Gr. 2. Another differs only in the Words Liberato and Scoto and the Weight is but 1 Dr. 3. The Scotch Lyon in a Shield not crown'd Robertus Dei G. Rex Sco. R. St. Andrew's Cross with two Flower-de-Lys and two Trefoils Dns. Protector MS. W. 20 Gr. The five next I guess to belong to Robert the Third Rob. III since they carry a Motto on the Reverse which was not I think more early in this Isle K. Henry the Fifth was the first that bore it in England 'T is true (n) Traite Historique des Monnoyes de France 4to Amsterd 1692. 54. Le Blanc gives this Motto on a Coin which he ascribes to K. Lewis the VII which would carry the Antiquity of an Inscription somewhat higher But he that curiously examines that Coin will find the Shield of the Royal Arms enclos'd in a Rose not used in England before Edward the Third's Time And if the Fashions of Money were brought from France hither as perhaps every Body will allow yet I think all agree that we followed their Example pretty early as the Scots did ours So that it may be worth the considering anew whether this Coin be truly so old as Le Blanc puts it 1. The Scotch Lyon within a Shield crown'd Robertus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum R. St. Andrew stretched upon his Cross XPC. Regnat XPC. Vincit XPC. imp W. 2 Dr. 2. Different only from the former in Robertus Dei Gratia Rex Sco. W. 1 Dr. 4 Gr. 3. The Shield not crown'd Robertus Dei G. Rex Scoto R. as above W. 1 Dr. 4. The Shield as before Robertus Rex Scotorum The Reverse the same with the two last mentioned W. 34 Gr. 5. About the Shield not crown'd a Garniture somewhat representing a Rose Robertus Dei Gratia Rex co R. as before W. 34 Gr. A 6th without co James I. King James the First may probably challenge the two next being of a near Resemblance to some of those of his immediate Predecessor 1. The Scotch Lyon in a Shield crown'd betwixt two Flower-de-Lys's Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum R. St. Andrew stretch'd on the Cross XPC. Regnat c. W. 1 Dr. 24 Gr. 2. A small Crown on each Side of the Shield Jacobus D. Gratia Rex Scotor R. The Flower-de-Lys's not crown'd as in the former Salvum fac populum tuum W. 1 Dr. 24 Gr. In the Fourteenth Year of King (o) Parl. 8. Ja. 2. cap. 33. Oct. 25. 1451. James the Second James II. it was enacted in Parliament That there should be striken a new Penny in Gold called a Lyon with the Print of the Lyon on th' ane Side and the Image of St. Andrew on the other Side with a side Coat even to his Fute halding the samin Weight of the Half English Noble This was to go at 6 s. 8 d. and its Half at 3 s. 4 d. exactly at the same Rates with the Demy and Half Demy Afterwards in his (p) Parl. 13. cap. 29. Oct. 19 1455. Eighteenth Year the Demy and new Lyon were order'd to go at 10 s. Of one Sort or other of these are the six following 1. The Scotch Shield crown'd with a crown'd Flower-de-Lys on each Side and Jacobus Dei Gracia Rex Sco. R. St. Andrew as above Salvum fac Pplum W. 27 Gr. 2. The Flower-de-Lys's on the Sides of the Shield not crown'd Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum R. St. Andrew on the Cross with Flowers uncrown'd Salvum fac Pplum Domine W. 27 Gr. 3. St. Andrew carrying his Cross Jacobus Dei Gratia Rex Sco. R. The Lyon in a Shield crown'd Salvum fac Populum tuum Domine W. 1 Dr. 20 Gr. 4. The Lyon within a Shield in Form of a Lozenge with a small Crown over it Jacobus Dei Gratia Rex Sc. R. A small St. Andrew's Cross betwixt two small Flower-de-Lys's within a pretty hexagonal Star each Point ending in a Flower-de-Lys with a small Rose betwixt every two Points Salvum fac Populum tuum Do. W. 1 Dr. 27 Gr. 5. A Piece of the same Size and Stamp with the last mentioned W. 1 Dr. 18 Gr. 6. Another of the same Stamp but somewhat smaller Size W. 30 Gr. James III. James the Third in his (q) Oct. 12. 1467. cap. 18. third Parliament order'd the Demy and Lyon to be rais'd to 12 s. but in the (r) Parl. 4 cap. 23. next he held which happend to be within a very few Months they both return'd to their old Value of 10 s. In his (s) Nov. 20. 1475. cap. 67. Eighth the Demy is set at 13 s. 4 d. and the Scottis Crown which I imagine is only another Name for the Lyon at 13. In his (t) Feb. 24. 1483. cap. 93. Thirteenth a fine Penny of Gold is order'd to be stricken of the Weight and Fineness of the Rose-Noble which is to pass at the Value of 30 new Groats of ten in the Ounce of fine Silver Another Penny of Gold of the same Inscription to go for 20 Groats and a third for 10. Of the two latter Kinds I suppose are these two 1. An Unicorn holding a Shield with the Scotch Lyon a small St. Andrew's Cross under the Unicorn's Feet and Jacobus Dei Gra.
Rex Scotorum R. A Cross Flory charg'd with a great blazing Star Exurgat De. dissipent Nimici ej W. 2 Dr. 2. A Piece of the same Stamp but smaller Size W. 33 Gr. James IV. James the Fourth in his very (u) A. D. 1488. Parl. 1. Jac. 4. cap. a. Vide Ejusd Parl. 4. cap 40. first Year coin'd Money both of Gold and Silver of the same Weight and Fineness with that of his Father and some of 'em seem to have carry'd the very same Impression The following four may probably belong to this King 1. One exactly stamp'd as those two are which we have allotted to the foregoing Reign varying only the first Legend thus Jacobus 4. Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum W. 2 Dr. 2. The King on Horse-back in Armour holding a Sword circumscrib'd Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotor R. The Scotch Lyon in a Shield crown'd with a great Cross reaching the outer Ring of the Piece Salvum fac populum tuum Domine W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr. 3. The same with the former saving that the Legends are transpos'd Jacobus c. being about the Shield W. 1 Dr. 18 Gr. 4. A lesser Piece of the same Stamp with the last W. 22 Gr. In the old (x) 8vo Antverp 1575. Ordinance of the King of Spain there 's a Piece call'd the Croone van Schotlandt which seems to be of this King 's coining It bears the Shield of Scotland crown'd and Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum IIII. R. St. Andrew on the Cross and Salvum fac populum tuum Domine It s Weight is set at 2 Dr. 16 Gr. Betwixt this King and his Son and Successor King James the Fifth we ought to place a Noble Medal in Gold J. Duke of Albany struck by John Duke of Albany the great Governour of Scotland in the young King's Minority It bears the Duke and Dutchess's Arms in a Shield crown'd with a Ducal Crown a large Cross throughout the Field and Joannis Albaniae Duc. Gubern R. A Dove spreading her Wings on the Top of another Shield with the Duke 's own Coat of Arms 1524. and circumscrib'd Sub Umbra Tuarum Weight 7 Dr. There are also some Pieces of James the Fifth himself James V. which seem to be of the Medal-kind rather than intended for an ordinary current Coin Such I take the three following to be 1. A massy one as broad as a new English Half-crown and very thick bearing the Scotch Shield crown'd betwixt two small Crosses with Jacobus 5. Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum R. A Cross Floree with with four Thistle-heads inscrib'd Crucis Arma sequamur W. 1 Ounce 2 Dr. 30 Gr. 2. A smaller of the same Stamp with the former W. 1 Dr. 24 Gr. 3. The King in Bust crown'd Jacobus 5. Dei Gra. Rex Scotor R. The Scotch Lyion in a Shield not crown'd with a large Cross through it inscrib'd Villa Edinbrugh W. 7 Dr. 27 Gr. Indeed the common Golden Coins of this Reign well known by the Name of Bonnet-pieces and said to have been coin'd out of Gold found in the Kingdom of Scotland are extreamly beautiful and little inferiour to the finest Medals Of these they have the four following 1. The King in Bust with a Scotch Bonnet on his Head Jacobus 5. Dei G. R. Scotorum 1539. R. The Scotch Shield crown'd Honor Regis Judicium diligit W. 3 Dr. 2. The same exactly 1540. 3. Another a Third less 1540. W. 2 Dr. 4. Half of the last mention'd 1540. W. 1 Dr. The same Year with the first of these there was another Piece coin'd of the same Weight and Size with the Bonnet carrying the Scotch Shield crown'd and incircled with a Chain of Thistle-heads the Inscription JACOBUS 5. DEI G. R. SCOTORV 1539. R. A large St. Andrew's Cross charg'd with a Crown betwixt J and R in the upper Quarter a Thistle-head and in the lower a Flower-de-Lys inscrib'd HONOR REGIS IVDICIVM DILIGIT 'T is a curious Rarity and very lately communicated to me by Mr. Sutherland Q. Mary Queen Mary's Life in all the several Stages of it was so full of wonderful Circumstances that no Reign afforded more copious Matter for Medals than hers and yet I have seen none in Gold that respects her History Mr. Sutherland indeed informs me that he has seen one with the same Stamp of the first of her Coins exactly of the Weight with the first mention'd Medals of her Father Which I take to have been struck as his also probably was at the first opening of her Mint Her ordinary Coins in that Metal are these 1. The Scotch Shield crown'd betwixt two Stars with Maria Dei Gra. Regina Scotorum R. A Cross Flory with a Thistle-head in each Quarter and Crucis Arma sequamur W. 1 Dr. 24 Gr. 2. The Shield as above Maria D. G. R. Scotorum 1543. R. MR. with a Crown above and a Star below Ecce Ancilla Domini W. 1 Dr. 16 Gr. 3. The Shield crown'd betwixt the Letters J. and G. Maria D. G. Scotorum Regina R. A Cypher including all the Letters of Maria Regina with a Crown above and a Star on each side Diligite Justitiam 1553. W. 2 Dr. 18 Gr. The Letters J and G. shew James Earl of Murray to have been Governour when the Piece was coin'd 4. Half of the same W. 1 Dr. 9 Gr. 5. The Queen's Effigies with her Head in Dress Maria D. G. Scotorum Regina R. The Scotch Shield crown'd Justus fide vivit 1555. W. 4 Dr. 6 7. Two more of the same Stamp and Weight coin'd in the Years 1557 and 1558. 8. Half of the foremention'd of the same Stamp coin'd in 1555. W. 1 Dr. 32 Gr. 9 10. Two more of the Weight c. last mention'd coin'd in 1557 and 1558. 11. Francis and Mary Face to Face with a large Crown above their Heads Fran. Ma. D. G. R. R. Scotor Delphin Vien R. Four Pair of Dolphins link'd together and crown'd a Cross of Lorrain betwixt every two Pair and a St. Andrew's Cross in the middle Horum tuta fides 1558. W. 4 Dr. James VI. The largest and most valuable of King James the Sixth's Golden Coins is the Rose-Noble of Scotland of the same Weight with that of England On the one Side are the Arms of Scotland crown'd in a Ship with two Flags betwixt the Letter J and the Figure 6 with a Rose on one Side of the Ship Jacobus 6. Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum R. Two Scepters or Batoons put in the Form of a St. Andrew's Cross each End of 'em crown'd in the Quarters of which are four Lions Rampant crown'd All this is in a large Rose between every Leaf whereof there 's a Thistle as there is also in the center of the Cross The Legend Florent Sceptra Piis Regna his Jova dat numerari W. 4 Dr. I call this the largest of that King 's Golden Coins beause I reckon the four following all of that Metal
Shillings were the Price of six Cows and (g) LL. Burg. cap. 121. four Pence the Worth of a Pair of Shoes In William the First 's Reign William I. Money seems to have been pretty plentiful since the Nobility of Scotland agreed to pay a (h) H. Boeth lib. 13. Fol. 272. b. Hundred thousand Pound Sterling whereof half was to be in ready Cash to our Henry the Second for the Redemption of that Prince Nor had this so far exhausted the publick Treasure but that he was able not long after to lend Two (i) Ibid. Fol. 277. a. thousand Merks to Richard the Third on his Return in Poverty and Thraldom from the Holy Land Notwithstanding his great Glut of Money which he appears to have been Master of there are not many of his Pence to be met with at this Day In some of the best (k) Penes RR. D. D. Archiep. Ebor. D. R. Ihoresbi Collections of our English Coins there 's one which has been suppos'd to belong to either the Conqueror or his Son Rufus that bears a Side-face and a Scepter and whereon the King looks finer and younger than on any of the rest This with humble Submission I should rather place amongst the Coins of Scotland and guess to belong to King William the First of that Kingdom Two more I have (k) p. D. Ja. Sutherland seen which may possibly belong to this King The one has Le Rey Willem the other Willelmus Rex and both have Walter for the Coiner's Name on the Reverse after which on one comes On Ber. which whether it be for Berwick or Perth sometimes call'd Bertha will need an Enquiry That there was Money coin'd in his Reign is pretty plainly asserted by the Chronicle of Mailros * Chron. Melross ad An. 1195. Willielmus Rex Scotorum innovavit monetam suam In Alexander the (m) Stat. Gild. capp 18.24 26. Third's Time Alex. III a good Horse for the War was valu'd at twenty Shillings a whole Carcase of Mutton the highest Rate sixteen Pence and the lowest eight Pence a Flagon of Beer better and worse Two-pence and a Penny A Couple of these Pennies of the very same Impression Size and Weight I have in my small Collection bearing the King's Head half-faced with a Scepter and Alexander Dei Gra. On the Reverse Rex Scotorum about four hexagonal Mullets or Stars W. 21 Gr. Half of the same K. John King John's is likewise Half-faced with a Crown and Scepter and Johannis Dei Gra. R. Rex Scotorum c. as before And the Weight the same His Half-penny weighs 9 Gr. Half of the same Rob. I. Money of some sort or other could not be very scarce in the Reign of Robert the Bruce who (n) H. Boeth lib. 14. fol. 308. b. agreed to pay our Edward the Third 30000 Merks in ready Money And (o) Hist Scot. lib. 7. p. 237. Lesly assures us the Merks were Sterling His Penny (p) P. D. J. Sutherland Half-penny and Farthing are to be seen Much of the some Shape with those of his Predecessors Robertus Dei Gra. R. Rex Scotorum David II In the Year 1366. the latter End of David the Second's Reign it was (q) Vid. Stat. Dav. 2. capp 38. 46. Enacted in Parliament that the Money should be equal in Goodness to that of England and the next Year the Coinage was further regulated a Pound of fine Silver making 29 s. 4 d. Et fiat says the Statute in ipsa Signum Notabile per quod possit ab omni alia prius fabricata evidenter cognosci I think he was the first King of Scotlond that coin'd Groats They give him crown'd and side-fac'd with a Scepter erect and David Dei Gratia Rex Scotorum R. Dns Protector MS. Liberator MS. on an outer Circle and Villa Edinburgh about four Mullets in an inner His half Groat has the same Inscription W. 1½ Dr. His Penny weighs 14 Gr. and has only Villa Edinburgh on the Reverse There 's (r) p. D. Sutherland another which has Villa Aberden on the Reverse And those of Edinburgh have been minted at several Times There are Half and a Third of these and Pennies of both Kinds Robert the Second's Groat is much of the same Shape Rob. II. Weight and Size with that of his Predecessor It shews the King half-faced with a Crown and Scepter erect and Robertus Dei Gra· Rex Scotorum R. Dnus Protector MS. Liberator MS. on the outer Circle and Villa de Perth about four small Stars on the inner Another of 'em has Villa Edinburgh and a Third Dundee And I have seen (s) p. Eundem Halfs of all these The first open faced Groat is that of Robert the Third Rob. III. It gives the King's Picture crown'd but without a Scepter in such a kind of Rose as we have on most of our old English Groats The Inscription is Robertus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum On the Reverse are three Globules in each Quarter of the Cross In the inner Circle Villa Edinburgh and on the outer Dnus Protector MS. Liberator MS. W. 1½ Dr. 7 Gr. Mr. Sutherland has three other Varieties with Villa de Perth Villa de Aberd .. and Villa Dumbertan and the Half of the first of these and those of Villa Edinburgh as likewise Pennies of both kinds and Villa de Aberde In the first Year of King James the First 's Reign 't was enacted that (t) Parl. 1 Jac. 1. cap. 23. Mar. 26. 1424. our Lord the King gar mend his Money James I. and gar stryke it in like Wecht and Fineness to the Money of England A little before this the States of the Kingdom had agreed to (u) H. Boeth lib. 17. Fol. 346. pay to our K. Henry the Sixth the Sum of 100000 Merks for this King's Ransom whereof 50000 were to be paid in ready Money These tho' of such a Standard as then pass'd for (x) Vid. Lesl Hist Scot. lib. 7. cap. 261. Sterling might probably be found to carry too great an Allay when they came to be tender'd in England and this might as probably give Occasion for the foremention'd Statute His Groat is full-faced with Crown and Scepter and Jacobus Dei Gracia Rex Scot. R. In the Quarters of the Cross are two Flower-de-Lis's and twice three little Balls or Globuli countercharg'd within an anner Circle bearing Villa Edinburgh and an outer with Dnus Protector MS c. There 's (y) p RR D D Archiep Ebor. another which I take to belong likewise to this King and to be of somewhat more Age than the former whereon the Inscription is Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex-Scotorum and its Reverse in all Points agrees with that of Robert the Third The Weight of the former is 1 Dr. 9 Gr. and of this 1 Dr. 4½ Gr. There are (z) p M J Sutherland others coin'd at Perth Aberdeen
Legend is Salvum fac Populum tuum Dōe The like to which I have seen in Mr. Sutherland's Collection having on the other Side four IIII and a small Crown after the Word Scotorum Another instead of the four IIII has Q. T. and a third QRA all signifying the Word Quartus Half of the first of these is likewise there The only Medal as far as I yet have learn'd which was struck by this King is that which is fairly describ'd and accounted for by the Learned (q) Numism p. 88. Mr. Evelyn who observes that it was coin'd in the last and fatal Year of his Reign The other begins its first Inscription with Jacobus 4. but the Figure is undoubtedly misprinted for that of of 5 the Piece being the very same which we shall presently present the Reader with as the proper Groat of the next Reign James V. King James the Fifth as far as appears by the Statutes of his Time made no manner of Alteration in the Standard of the Coin And yet towards the End of his Reign or the Beginning of his Daughters a mighty Change did happen both in the naming of the Scottish Pieces of Money and in the Computation of their Sums as we shall see anon The eldest of his Coins Groat and Half-groat give him Side-faced with Jacobus Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum R. Cross Floree two Thistle-heads and two Spur-Rowels for they are hexagonal and pierc'd in the Center with Villa Edinburgh His later Groat gives him in Bust side-faced with short lank Hair crown'd Jacobus 5. Dei Gra. Rex Scotorum R. The Scotch Shield on a Cross circumscrib'd Oppidum Edinburgi Others which seem the elder have Villa c. W. 1 Dr. 18 Gr. Q. Mary After his Death we hear no more of any Groats Half-Groats Pennies or Half-pennies coin'd in Scotland nor any of their Names so much as once mention'd in any of the subsequent Acts of Parliament 'T is (r) Ita. RR. D. D. Archiep. Ebor. suppos'd that by this Time the Price of Silver was so risen or rather the Scots like the French had so rais'd the Accounts of their Sums that the old smaller Silver Coins which took their Denomination from Pennies grew into disuse and the Pieces that were from henceforward coin'd took theirs from Shillings and Merks Thus in France the Deniers perish'd and were forgotten and the Sols and Livres succeeded in their Room We do not indeed meet with the Name of Testoons in the publick Statutes of the Realm before the Beginning of James the Sixth's Reign But 't is more than probable that the Name was common enough in his Mother's Time that the Pieces so call'd were coin'd in Imitation of our English Shillings and that their current Value was Five Shillings Scotch Many of these and other Coins of this Reign are still to be seen in the Cabinets of the Curious And I shall give the Reader an Account of such of 'em as have com'd to my Knowledge in the same Order wherein they were minted 1. The eldest of these bears the (s) p. D. Sutherland Queen side-faced and crown'd with Maria Dei Gra. R. Scotorum R. The Shield of Scotland crown'd betwixt two Mullets and Da pacem Domine 1553. The Second bears the Letter M. crown'd and supported with two crown'd Thistles inscrib'd Maria Dei G. Scotorum Regina 1555. R. The Scotch Shield on a Cross circumscrib'd Deliciae Domini Cor bumile W. 5 Dr. 3 Gr. Half of the same 2. Another of the same Year carries her Head with Maria Dei G. Scotor Regina R. A crown'd Shield and Justus fide vivit 1555. W. 3 Dr. 13 Gr. 3. The Scotch Shield supported by the Letters M and R Maria Dei G. Scotor Regina 1556. R. A large Cross with Four less in its Quarters Virtute tua libera me W. 4 Dr. 4 Gr. 4. The Half of this of the same Year c. 5. Differs nothing from the Third excepting in its Weight and Date for 't is said to be coin'd in 1558 and weighs only 3 Dr. 20 Gr. 6. F and M in a Cypher crown'd supported with double Crosslets Fecit utraque unum 1558. R. The Arms of the Dauphine and Scotland with Franciscus Mar. D. G. R. R. Scotor D. D. Vien W. 4 Dr. 2 Gr. Immediately upon the Death of Queen Mary of England this Year King Henry the Second of France (t) Lesl Hist Sot lib. 10. p. 503. caused his Daughter-in-Law to be declar'd Queen of England Scotland and Ireland in the Parliament of Paris and order'd the Arms of England to be put on all her Plate Tapestry c. It should seem that this was her common Style ever after till the Treaty of Leith cut her short For thus runs the first (u) Lesl Hist Scot. p. 528. Article there Ut nec Franciae Rex nec ipsius Conjunx Scotiae Regina Angliae Hiberniaeve Titulos sibi deinceps usurparent Insignia Anglicana ex tota sua suppellectile delerent Diplomata in quibus Titulus Angliae Hiberniae Ipsis tribuebatur supprimi curarent 'T is much that in all this Time none of their Money bore the Arms and Title of England and yet I never saw nor read of any that did 'T is true Mr. Evelyn (x) Numism 93. mentions her assuming the Arms of England and Scotland in a Medal but that which he has given us and which he seems to think concerns the Story of our renown'd Queen Elizabeth has not a Stroke in it which looks this Way The Queen indeed pleaded for (y) Archb. Spotsey Hist of Ch. of Scotl. lib. 4. p. 177. herself afterwards that she was constrain'd to this Usurpation by her Husband and Father-in-Law and that after their Death she never practis'd any such Matter And so I suppose her suffering a Medal to be struck in the Year 1560 is to be accounted for On this we have the Arms of France Scotland and England quarterly circumscrib'd Maria D. G. Francorum Scotorum Reg. c. On the Reverse two Crowns on a Level with a Third in the Clouds inscrib'd Altamque Moratur 1566. 7. Another of the same Weight Stamp c. with the last but coin'd in 1559. One of the Articles wherewith the Lords of the Congregation this very Year charg'd the Queen-Regent was (z) B. Burnet Hist of Reform Vol. 2. p. 412. that she had embas'd the Coin to maintain her French Soldiers The last mention'd is not referr'd to in this Charge but some (a) p. ◠Sutherland baser Pieces and smaller which carry the Cypher crown'd c. but the Reverse has this Inscription on a Square Jam non sunt duo sed una caro 1558 and 1559. 8. Arms of France and Scotland crown'd on a Cross Crosslet Fra. Ma. D. G. R. R. Franc. Scotor q. R. F and M in a Cypher crown'd supported by a Flower-de-Lys and Thistle crown'd Vicit Leo de Tribu Juda 1560. W. 4 Dr. 2