1 Noble - David II ND
1357 year| Gold | 7.77 g | 36 mm |
| Issuer | Scotland (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| King | David II (1329-1371) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 1357 |
| Value | 1 Noble |
| Currency | Pound Scots (1136-1707) |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 7.77 g |
| Diameter | 36 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-08 |
| Numista | N#125787 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Ornate cross with crowns and lions in its quarters, all within a tressure with trefoils in the spandrils.
Script: Latin (uncial)
Lettering: IHC · AVTEM TRANCIENS · P MEDIVM · ILLORVM · IBAT
Lettering (regular font): IHC · AVTEM TRANCIENS · P MEDIVM · ILLORVM · IBAT
Translation: But Jesus, passing through the midst of them, went His way.
Comment
This coin was the first attempt by a Scottish monarch to introduce a gold coinage. It is based on the English noble of Edward III and was minted by David II after his return from captivity in England. The coin was likely minted in low numbers and remains an extreme rarity. One theory for its scarcity is that the noble was coined to pay off David II's ransom owed to Edward III, thus ensuring that most of them would be melted down once they were delivered into English hands.
There are only 4 surviving examples, all of which are in museum collections. The specimens are in The Hunterian, Glasgow; the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh; the British Museum, London and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the 1 Noble - David II ND (1357) coin from Scotland is that it features a unique design element - a small shield with the royal arms of Scotland, which was not commonly seen on coins of that time period. This adds a touch of historical significance to the coin, making it a prized collector's item for numismatists.
