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Scottish Coins ~ Alexander III (1249-1286)
An example of the earliest coinage of this long and important reign in Scottish history, this coin was minted in Berwick and is a continuation of the designs which had been used from the time of William I (1165-1215). Early pennies from the reign of Alexander III are now quite scarce, as not many of them were minted to begin with, and then in the great recoinage of ca. 1280 many of them were called in and melted into the new coinage.
One of the scarcer mints was Glasgow, where this penny was minted. This particular coin was issued in the second coinage of Alexander III.
Another of Scotland's very young Kings, Alexander succeeded his father Alexander II at the tender age of 7. He was married to Margaret, daughter of the English King Henry III when he was 10. During the early part of his reign in 1263 the Norwegian King Haakon invaded Scotland unsuccesfully, this resulted in a treaty in which Scotland acquired the western isles. The rest of his reign was peaceful and the economy flourished, resulting in a great coinage. The latter years of Alexanders' reign were tragic, his wife died, his heir to the throne, also named Alexander, his daughter Margaret died in Norway giving birth to a girl who would become the first Queen of Scotland, Margaret. Alexander died on a journey home to his new wife, while traveling through the night, he rode over a cliff to his death. The resulting insurgency after his death was portrayed loosely in the movie "Braveheart". The above coin is one of the earliest coins struck during the reign of Alexander III. The early coinage followed that of the previous reign of Alexander II(1214-1249) very closely and is just about as scarce. The minting of halfpennies would only commence much later in the reign, probably after ca. 1280 with the recoinage during that time. To alleviate the need for smaller change these coins were often cut in half and quarters to make halfpennies and farthings. This coin was minted in "Fres" which many researchers now believe must be Dumfries.
Above is another example of the first issue of Alexander III's pennies that has been halved to make smaller change. When this coin was issued, it was approximately a days wages, so was a rather large denomination, which when making smaller purchases necessitated someone cutting the coin down. Halves and quarters for farthings are not uncommon. This coin was minted in Perth.
In approximately 1280 Alexander III initiated a complete recoinage, which would closely follow that of Edward I in England. Many or most of the older coins were called in, melted and reminted into more standardised issues. The use of mint names and minters names on coins was suspended, and a new system of using stars with varying numbers of points used. The precise attribution to mint towns is not possible now, as the legislation that authorised this coinage has been since lost. However some attribution is possible by determining where the coins are found and the numbers of stars on the coins, since coins tended to circulate within easy distance of the mint only. This coin has 23 points in the stars, and is believed to have been minted in Aberdeen.
For the better part of the early Middle Ages, Scotland ruled over many parts of what is now northern England. This included the town of Berwick, which at that time was noted for it's local silver mines. These mines contributed most of the silver which was used in contemporary Scottish coinage. This penny, with 24 points was perhaps minted there, as pennies with 24 points are far and away the most common coin of Alexander III.
Another example of a Berwick penny, this one shows signs of doubling on the obverse of the coin, this may have been a result of the coin sticking to the upper die (reverse) when it was struck. The resulting double strike also boldened the strike of the reverse of the coin. This is a fairly early example of a minting error, however, minting errors were much more the norm during this time in history.
Coins are known from nine different mints after the recoinage of ca. 1280. This is of course inferred by finds of coins, and knowing that the number of points in the stars on the coins somehow was linked to a mint location. The above coin, with 26 points in the stars, is believed to have been minted in Perth. Generally it is believed that coins with differing numbers of points are from the following mints: 20 points - Edinburgh 23 points - Aberdeen 24 points - Berwick 25 points - Roxburgh 26 points - Perth Coins with 21, 22, 27, and 28 points have not been associated with any known town, and certainly must have come from much smaller locales.
SCOTLAND, Alexander III (1249-1286), Penny, 1.48g., 2nd Coinage, Class E, +ALEXANDER DEI GRA, crowned profile bust of King holding sceptre left, rev., REX SCOTORVM+, divided by a long cross, pierced mullet in each angle, 22 points (S.5056), this is another scarcer penny from an unknown smaller locale's mint.
An example of the mysterious 28 point penny from a much smaller and now unknown mint. This reign blessed future coin collectors with an immense selection of reasonably common issues, a first for a Scottish coin issue. The practice of cutting pennies may have been officially sanctioned in the first coinage issue, but was done away with during the second coin issue ca. 1280. Notably for the first time farthings and halfpennies were also struck, copying the reforms which changed the English coinage of Edward I. Pennies from this reign, particularly those of the second issue are reasonably obtainable for collectors. Halfpennies are rather scarcer, and farthings are quite rare, though still obtainable. Nice collectable pennies from this reign can be purchased for under £ 75 .
Another example of the 28 point penny from a lesser known and less prominent mint. It might be conjectured that this could have been minted in Ayr. Denominations used during this reign:SilverPenny or 1dPennies are far and away the most common coins available from this reign, in fact this 36 year reign saw the most coinage minted in Scotland until the 17th century. Increased commerce no doubt had a lot to do with that. Halfpenny or 1/2dDespite the fact that regular round halfpennies were made in the second coinage after 1280, they were never made in great quantities and pennies continued to be cut in half to make small change. Farthing or 1/4dFarthings were struck after 1280, but never in great quantity, and due to their diminutive size they are often not found by detectorists. For that reason they are very scarce in the 21st century. |
Page last updated on 5th August 2011 Года All pages and images copyright © David Parrish 1999 - 2011 Года
