The only silver coin was the penny, until the year 1293, when Alexander III. coined also half-pcnce; and there are silver farthings of Robert 1. and David II. The groat and half-groat were also introduced by the latter, which completed the set of Scottish silver. These all ceased to be coined in the time of Queen Mary ; when shillings were first coined, with the bust of the queen on one side, and the arms of France and Scot land on the other. The silver crown, of the value of 30s. Scots, was first coined in 1565 ; smaller pieces of 20s. and 10s. were likewise struck, and marks of silver, worth 3s. 4d. English. These coins have the mark XXX. XX. X. upon them, to denote their value. The rnotto NEMO IMPUNE LAC ESSET first appears on Scottish coins in 1578. The crown of an ounce weight gradually increased in nominal value, until, in 1601, the mark was LX. In the time of Charles 1. half marks, 40 and 20 penny pieces, Nverc t..tiined. In 1665, the Scottish dollars first dppeared, in value 56s. Scots, with the half and quarter of proportional value. In 1686, James VII. coined 60s. 40s. 20s. 10s. and 5s. pieces ; but only those of 40s. and 10s. are known. At the union of the kingdoms, all the Scottish coins were called in and recoined at Edinburgh, with the mark E under the bust. In general, the Scottish silver coins are equal, if not superior, in execution, to the English.
Gold was first issued in Scotland by Robert II. The pieces were at first called St. Andrews, from the figure of that tutelar saint upon the cross. The lion was ano ther name for the largest gold coins, from the arms of the kingdom upon it. Then comes the unicorn, under James III. ; which was followed by the bonnet-pieces of James V.; which last are of admirable workmanship. The last gold coined in Scotland consisted of the pistole and half pistole, of twelve and six pounds Scots, which have the sun under the head. • The Scottish copper coinage is of an earlier date than that of England. It was preceded by money of billon, called black money, consisting of copper wash ed with silver. The true copper coinage began in the time of James VI. The bodle, so called from Both well the mint-master, was worth two pennies Scots. The ba-zo-bce (bas niece) was also coined, corresponding with the English halfpenny. Some pieces called At kinsons were also coined l'ay James VI. in 1582, which
went for a third more than the value of the baw-bee. Besides these, there were the hardie and the plack, the former worth three, the latter four pennies Scots. The Scottish coins of Charles I. are very rare.
Besides the regular coinage, there are various Scot tish medals deserving of notice. The first modern me dals of gold were those of David II. struck between the years 1330 and 1370, of which only two are known to exist. In 1487, there is a medal of James III. sent to the shrine of St. Ambroise in France. There is also a medal of James IV. in the collar of St. Michael, which, however, is by some suspected to be a forgery. There are various remarkable medals of the unfortunate Queen Mary, most of which, however, appear to have been executed in France. Tbe fine crown of Mary and Hen ry, in 1565, is exceedingly rare. The coronation medal of Charles 11. struck at Edinburgh, 18th June 1663, is the only one ever coined of Scottish gold.
For the reasons already given, we have not thought it necessary to enter more minutely into the history and description of modern coins and medals. We must therefore refer such of our readers as are desirous of more particular information upon this branch of the subject to some of the works we have noticed below.
Valliant, History of the Kings of Syria. Hradouin, Berodiades. Froelich, Annales Regum et Rerum Syrze. Corsini, De Minnifari alioruniyue, Armenia Regunz, Nummis, &c. Cary, Histoire des Rozs de Thrace, et du Bcsphore Cimmerien eclaircie par les Medailles. Beau vais, Histoire abregee des empereura Romains et Grecs, &c. pour les yuelles on a frappe des medailles, &c. Cooke, 1VIedallic History of Imperial Rome. Le Blanc, Traite historique des Illonnoies. Banduri, Numismata Impe rat. Rom. &c. 1718. Republished at Hamburgh, by J. A. Fabricius, 1719. Beger, 7'hesazirus, sive Gem me, Numismata, &c. 3 vols. Fol Ejusd. Regum et Inz perat. Rdnzan. Numismata, a Rubenio edita, 1700. Ejusd. De nummis Cretenszum serpentiferis 1702. Ejusd. Nu mismata Pontificunz Roman. 1703. Sestini, Descriptio nummorum veterzlm, Scc. Lips. 1796. Ejusd. Classes ge nerales, &c. ibid. 1797. Raschii, Lexicon universe rei nummarice. Lips. 1785-1805. Eckhel, Doctrina nummo rum veterunz. 8 vols. 4to. and the other works of this author. Pinkerton on Medals. (z)