2 Shillings - Charles I 1st Coinage

Charles I's first Scottish coinage was authorized almost immediately after his accession in 1625, though his coronation at Holyrood didn't take place until 1633 — eight years into his reign. The Edinburgh Mint operated under a series of moneyers working under strict indenture, and output for the smaller silver denominations was notoriously inconsistent, with many pieces struck from deteriorating dies that were kept in service well past their useful life.

Spink 5544 is among the thinner, lighter fractions of the series — a denomination that saw heavy circulation in Scottish markets where English coin was scarce and frequently refused.