A Collection of Scottish Coins, the Property of a Gentleman (Part III)

James V (1513-1542), Second coinage, Groat, Holyrood Abbey mint, type IIIb (iv), bust right with mantle and corded chain, single-arched crown, seven jewels to band, strawberry-leaf decorations, no trefoil on inner circle, rev. shield with rounded base, cross-ends E, no contraction after r of edinbvrgi, composite n, trefoil stops both sides, 2.64g/6h (SCBI 35, 929, same dies; SCBI 58, 84; SCBI 71, 377-8; B 9, fig. –; S 5378). Very fine, toned £400-£500

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Scottish Coins, the Property of a Gentleman.

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Bt Seaby June 1975

The first numismatic indication of an Edinburgh mint situated other than in Edinburgh Castle comes with the name Abbey Crowns - referring to the gold coinage of James V introduced in 1526. Their legends also refer to the Holy Cross (Rood). Holyrood Palace, as begun by James IV, was completed in 1505, though much extended during his son’s reign. The mint, apparently situated in the outer court of the palace on the south side of the Canongate, may have been established at this time. The abbey is mentioned in connection with coin dies as early as 1502 and Matthew Auchinleck, a moneyer up until 1507, was a Burgess of Canongate. [Abridged from Lord Stewartby’s article ‘Scottish Mints’ (Mint Dies and Currency pp.244-5)]