1 Lion - James II 2nd Coinage, 2nd Issue, Type II

James II's second coinage emerged from a reign defined by aggressive territorial consolidation and the systematic destruction of the Black Douglases, whose power James broke permanently at Stirling in 1452 — stabbing the 8th Earl himself. The crown's financial demands during this period drove successive recoinage programs, with the Lion series adjusted in weight and fineness as bullion supplies fluctuated. Sp#5222 distinguishes the Type II issue from its predecessor primarily through subtle die differences in the lettering and stops, distinctions that were invisible to most contemporary users but matter considerably to attribution today.