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Scottish Coins ~ Charles I (1625 - 1649)
One of Scotland's and Britain's most troubled monarchs, Charles I had the unfortunate experience of reigning during the most tumultuous period in British history. Whilst many of the events of this reign were apparent through coinage issues in England, Scottish coinage was largely unchanged by the events leading up to the Civil War. This reign saw some of the largest outputs of silver coinage in larger denominations ever in Scotland, larger coins such as the 12/-, the 30/- and the 60/- Scots now provide modern collectors with the opportunity to collect larger Scottish coinage than is usually available from most reigns in Scottish history. This reign also saw the introduction of numerous bronze coins in the form of Bodles or Scottish twopence coins, which during that time were the most common coin in circulation in Scotland. These Scottish bodles were first struck under contract to the Earl of Stirling, and were considered a token coinage, because the value of the metal did not correspond with the stated value of the coin. Curiously the bodle coins were struck in large numbers, and even heavily counterfeited, and large numbers of them circulated in Northern England during the 17th century as farthings. This reign produced some of the most attractive gold coins in the form of the Unit or Sceptre piece which was worth £12 Scots. The son of James VI, Charles I succeeded his father on the latters death in 1625. During the earliest years of his reign, coinage continued to be struck in the name of James VI, this may have been an economic necessity, or may have given some continuity to what was then a rapidly changing series of coins. This reign was a remarkably unpopular one, both in Scotland and in England, indeed Charles I only was coronated in Scotland in 1633 and preferred to spend most of his time to the south in England. The above bodle represents the last coinage of this monarch, indeed this coin may have been struck posthumously during the beginning of the Commonwealth in England as Charles I was executed on orders of the Parliament in 1648. Denominations used during this reign:GoldFirst Coinage 1625-1634:Unit = £ 12 Scots or = £1 SterlingDouble crown = £ 6 Scots = 10/- Sterling Britain crown = £ 3 Scots = 5/- Sterling Second Coinage: 1634-1637No coins issued corresponding to the second coinageThird Coinage 1637-1642:Unit = £ 12 Scots or = £1 Sterling Half unit = £ 6 Scots = 10/- Sterling, previously known as the "Double crown"Britain crown = £ 3 Scots = 5/- Sterling Half Britain crown = £ 1/10/- Scots = 2/6 Sterling SilverFirst Coinage 1625-1634:Sixty Shillings = £ 5 Scots or = £-/5/- SterlingThirty Shillings = £ 2/10/- Scots =/2/6 Sterling Twelve Shillings = £ -/12/- Scots = 1/- Sterling Six Shillings = £ -/6/- Scots = 6d Sterling Two Shillings = £ -/2/- Scots = 2d Sterling One Shilling = £ -/1/- Scots = 1d Sterling Second Coinage ca. 1636:Half merk = £ 6/8 ScotsHalf merk = £ 6/8 Scots - 1636 Milled Pattern - Briot's coinage Forty Pence = £ 3/4 Scots Forty Pence = £ 3/4 Scots - (1636) Milled Pattern - Briot's coinage Twenty Pence = £ 1/8 Scots Twenty Pence = £ 1/8 Scots - (1636) Milled Pattern - Briot's coinage Third Coinage 1637-1642:Sixty Shillings = £ 5 Scots or = £-/5/- SterlingThirty Shillings = £ 2/10/- Scots =/2/6 Sterling Twelve Shillings = £ -/12/- Scots = 1/- Sterling Six Shillings = £ -/6/- Scots = 6d Sterling Half merk = £ -/6/8 Scots = 6d Sterling Forty Pence = £ 3/4 Scots Twenty Pence = £ 1/8 Scots Fourth Coinage 1642:Three Shillings = 3/- Scots or = 3d SterlingTwo Shillings = 3/- Scots =3d Sterling CopperCoinage of 1629:
Penny = 1d Scots
From 1632-1639 the Earl of Stirling was lisenced to mint coins on contract for the Crown. Curiously the bodles issued during this time were notably smaller and lighter. The design was changed to one with the Crown over the monogram of Charles I and the denomination of the coin in Roman numerals. The obverse legend in Latin is C R D G SCOT ANG FR ET HIB which translates to Charles King by the Grace of God Scotland England France and Ireland. The reverse of this coin portrays the now familiar thistle emblem and the Latin legend NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSET which translates to Nobody Provokes Me With Impunity. One of the most curious aspects of this piece is that it is not the real thing, it is a contemporary counterfeit issued during that time. Small denomination coins were very scarce, and counterfeit issues as well as imported foreign coins became an integral part of the day to day economy in 17th century Scotland. The penalty for minting and or even tendering counterfeit coins could be quite severe, thusly these issues are now quite a bit scarcer than their Government issued brethren. Coinage of 1632-1639 - Earl of Stirling:Two Pence = 2d Scots, English style crownTwo Pence = 2d Scots, Scottish style crown Coinage of 1642, 1644, 1648,and 1650:Two Pence = 2d Scots
A fascinating memento from Scottish and British history, this AR medal by Nicholas Briot was struck in 1633 to commemorate Charles I's very belated Scottish coronation that year. His coronation should have been much earlier, he ascended the throne in 1625, but he carelessly delayed said coronation until finally giving into demands that it be done in 1633. His introduction of Anglican liturgy into the coronation ceremony did little to endear him to his Scottish subjects, and things went decidedly sour thereafter. On his return trip to London his baggage including many crown jewels were lost in the Firth of Forth, just off of Burntisland. Subsequently alleged witches were brought to trial in London, on charges of causing the shipwreck. Things went down for Charles I from there on, both in Scotland and in England. This lovely medal, with a lifelike portrait of the monarch, was commissioned to Nicholas Briot, a famous and skilled coiner. This medal was struck in a screw press, and is actually much better detailed as a result. One of these medals was struck piedfort in gold, which was presented to the King, he kept it as a pocket piece until his death in 1649. The silver examples like this one were thrown by the king to the crowds at the coronation ceremony. |
Page last updated on 5th August 2011 Года All pages and images copyright © David Parrish 1999 - 2011 Года
