Mary (1542-1567), First period, Testoon, type IIIa, 1556, mm. crown on rev. only, small high-arched crown, no annulets below m r, reads maria · dei · g · scotor · re·gina ·, rev. large cross potent with small crosses in angles, 5.89g/10h (SCBI 35, 1008/1006, same dies; SCBI 58, 324, same obv. die; SCBI 71, –; B 15, fig. 791, same obv. die; S 5405). About very fine, the varieties with no annulet on obverse and small crosses on reverse very rare £400-£500

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 Spink February 1982

This coinage reverted to a fineness of 11 deniers fine and so, being current for 5/- as was the 9 denier Testoon of 1555, it was considerably lighter.