12 Shillings - James VI 9th Coinage

The 9th coinage of James VI was issued after his accession to the English throne in 1603, when Scotland retained a separate mint and monetary system despite the union of the crowns. Edinburgh continued striking distinctly Scottish denominations in silver well into the decade, maintaining a parallel coinage while James pursued — ultimately unsuccessfully — a full political and monetary union with England.

Spink 5505 is among the larger silver pieces of this coinage. The Scottish shilling had suffered chronic debasement across the sixteenth century, and the 9th coinage represented a modest attempt at stabilization under a king now more focused on London than Edinburgh.