SCOTLAND. Alexander III. 1249-1286. AR Penny (19mm, 1.37 g, 1h). Second coinage, class Mc1. Uncertain mint. Struck circa 1280-1286. Crowned head left; scepter to left / Long cross pattée; voided stars of seven points in quarters. SCBC 5055 This is one of the scarcest varieties of pennies from this reign, whilst this reign usually produced the most commonly available coins to collectors in the 21st century there are some particularly fiendish coins that turn up once in a blue moon. The earliest coins in this reign continued the practice common in Britain of the moneyer's name and mint location on the reverse. Circa 1280 this was changed and moneyers no longer placed their names on the reverse and location names were eliminated in favour of tying the coin based on the number of points in the stars on the reverse. The number of points in the four stars range from 20 to 28. Unfortunately at some point in a bit later Scottish history the records that noted which mint manufactured which coins was lost. So to determine a mint locale for a particular coin is really impossible, but the most common are 24 pts in the stars and is believed to have been Berwick-On-Tweed because it was then the most productive Scottish mint, though not the largest population centre in that time. Perth is believed to be tied to 26 pts etc. The scarcest are the 28 pt pennies, suggesting they must have been minted in a very small quantity in a village perhaps Kinghorn, Ayr etc. This particular coin was originally misidentified in the auction as a 24 pt penny suggesting it was a relatively common coin from this era - but a picture is worth 1000 words and clearly this is a 28 pt penny - the second example of this rare mint that I have acquired over the years.
A wonderful old Scottish coin, scottishmoney, and many thanks for the history lesson. I've always loved these old pieces and thought many times of starting a small collection. It's kind of late in the game for me now so I have no plans...or deep enough pockets to do so...but I love seeing yours and others examples. Thank you for the showing it to us. Bruce
