William the Lion (1165-1214), Crescent and Pellet coinage, Phase I, Sterling, Phase I, Perth, Folpolt, bust left with wide crown and holding sceptre with cross potent sceptre-head, le rei willam:·:, rev. folpolt de pert:, short cross pattée with crescent and pellet in each angle, 1.34g/7h (SCBI 35, 29-30; cf. B 2-4, figs. 30, 31; S 5024). Good very fine with old cabinet toning, rare £600-£800

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

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bt Seaby February 1982

Until the discovery of the Dyke Hoard in 1780, coins of the Crescent and Pellet coinage were virtually unknown. Even now, they are still scarce, the earlier type with cross potent sceptre head being considerably rarer than the later cross pommée variety. Minting at Perth may have started in the mid 1170s, after the loss of various castles to the English under the 1174 Treaty of Falaise.