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1/2 Bawbee - Mary I 1st Period
| Issuer | Scotland |
|---|---|
| Year | 1543-1554 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
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| Obverse description | Central device of a crowned thistle occupying the field, with the initial letter 'M' to the left and 'R' to the right of the thistle stem, denoting Maria Regina. The crown above the thistle is of a simple heraldic form. The peripheral legend is divided by a beaded inner circle, with lettering in a Gothic-influenced Latin script. The overall design reflects the characteristic crude, hand-struck style of mid-sixteenth century Scottish hammered coinage. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (1543-1554) |
| Additional information |
Mary's first coinage period opened under regency governance — her mother Mary of Guise wielded the real administrative authority while the young queen remained, for much of this period, a political asset being negotiated between French and English interests. The billon bawbee series continued a denomination established by James V, whose own issues had already debased the currency considerably by the 1540s. At .250 fine, this half bawbee sits near the floor of meaningful silver content for the period.
Spink 5436 encompasses a span of eleven years under a single type, meaning die-link studies are the primary tool for narrowing individual pieces to a tighter date window.