© Dix Noonan Webb
© Dix Noonan Webb
1 Testoon - Mary I 1st Period, Type I
1553 year| Silver (.916) | 5.09 g | 30 mm |
| Issuer | Scotland (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Queen | Mary I (1542-1567) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 1553 |
| Value | 1 Testoon (⅕) |
| Currency | Pound Scots (1136-1707) |
| Composition | Silver (.916) |
| Weight | 5.09 g |
| Diameter | 30 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-08 |
| Numista | N#111113 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Crowned arms of Mary as Queen of Scots, arms flanked by cinquefoils.
Script: Latin
Lettering: · DA · PACEM · DOMINE · 1553 ·
Translation: Give peace, O Lord
Comment
This coin was prepared and minted in France using the new pendulum minting process. It is the first Scottish coin using this process.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the 1 Testoon - Mary I (1st Period, Type I) 1553 from Scotland is that it features a unique blend of Christian and pagan imagery on its reverse side. The coin's reverse depicts a crowned shield with the arms of Scotland, surrounded by a wreath of thistles and roses, symbolizing the union of the two countries. However, the coin's designer, Thomas Foulis, also included a small image of a unicorn, a mythical creature commonly associated with purity and grace, at the bottom of the shield. This subtle addition of a pagan element to a Christian coin highlights the complex cultural and religious influences present in Scotland during the 16th century.
