40 Pence - Charles I 3rd Coinage, 1st Issue

Charles I's Scottish 40 pence belongs to the 3rd Coinage introduced following a major revaluation of Scottish silver currency in 1637 — the same year Scots erupted in fury over the imposition of the new Prayer Book, riots that would ignite the Bishops' Wars within two years. The Edinburgh Mint operated under a crown license, and production of small-denomination silver like this was chronically troubled by shortages of bullion and repeated suspensions of minting activity throughout the 1630s.

Sp#5577 is among the scarcest denominations of the series by surviving population.