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Scottish Coins
Early Coinage in Scotland
David I (1124-1153)
Prince Henry (1139-1152)
Malcolm IV (1153-1165)
William I (1165-1214)
Alexander II (1214-1249)
Alexander III(1249-1286)
Margaret (1286-1290)
John Baliol (1292-1296)
Interregnum (1296-1306)
Robert I(1306-1329)
David II (1329-1371)
Robert II (1371-1390)
Robert III (1390-1406)
James I (1406-1437)
James II (1437-1460)
James III (1460-1488)
James IV (1488-1531)
James V (1531-1542)
Mary (1542-1567)
James VI (1567-1625)
Charles I (1625-1649)
Charles II (1649-1685)
James VII(1685-1688)
James VIII (1688-1766)
William & Mary (1688-1694)
William II (1694-1702)
Anne (1702-1714)
Post Union 1707- coins, etc.
Bibliography & notes

Scottish Coins ~ Robert III (1390-1406)

Though he was named John at birth, Robert III changed his name at the accession to the throne in 1390. He was seriously injured two years prior to becoming King in an equestrian accident, and was an invalid as a result of his injuries. His reign was marked by his inability to govern effectively and as a result Scotland was in chaos during the years of his reign.

The above coin is a fragment of a Groat minted during this reign and shows what part good metallurgy played in a succesful coinage, much of the coinage issued during this reign was lightened and debased. This coin was likely struck on a poor planchet resulting in its breaking into pieces sometime after minting. Notice that the monarch's portrait is front facing, unlike previous Scottish coins which showed a side facing portrait. This was a departure from tradition, and made the new coins more closely resemble contemporary English coinage. This particular coin is from the second issue and has a slightly neater portrait than that of the first coinage.

This reign saw the introduction of the first circulating Scottish gold coins, a gold Lion or 5/- Five Shillings or 60 Pence coin, and a Demi-lion or 2/6 or 30 Pence coin. These coins are divided into two classes, a heavy coinage issued from ca. 1390-1403, and a light coinage issued from ca. 1403-1406 where the weight of the coins was reduced by nearly 30 percent.

Denominations used during this reign:

Gold

Lion or 5/- or 60 Pence

Demi-Lion or 2/6 or 30 Pence

Silver

This groat like the one above is from the first or "heavy" coinage before coinage was debased and the weight reduced ca. 1403. Robert III continued the deterioration of Scottish coinage to fund deficits that began in the reign of David II and continued until the end of the native Scottish coinage in 1707. Until the 1360's English and Scottish coinage traded at par, never afterwards.

Groat or 4d

Halfgroat or 2d

Penny or 1d

Halfpenny or 1/2d

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