Scotland 1560 testoon
The first specimen was lot 39637 in Stack's Bowers Winter sale (Baltimore, November 2015), where it sold for $881.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "SCOTLAND. Testoon, 1560. Francis & Mary (Second Period, 1558-60). NGC VF-25. Crown over Royal Shield, with the shield divided into Scottish and French Arms, a cross to the left, a saltire to the right; Reverse: Crown over 'FM' monogram. One minor flan crack at 11 o'clock, otherwise of excellent manufacture. Tone confined to the protected areas of the devices, with fully original surfaces. An outstanding example of the issue struck the year of Francis' death in 1560 at the age of 16." The second specimen was lot 31327 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[2] noted, "SCOTLAND. 7 Shillings 4 Pence, ND (1578). Edinburgh Mint. James VI. PCGS EF-45. Countermark: AU Details. Revaluation of 1578. Crowned thistle countermark on obverse of 1560 Testoon of Francis & Mary. Obverse: Crowned monogram; Reverse: Combined coat-of-arms of France & Scotland; crown above. Very attractively toned and quite well preserved, this revalued issue even sports a clear and decisive countermark. Emanating from James's countermarked series of coinage a quarter of a century before his accession to the throne of England--merging the crown with that of Scotland. From the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: S-5418. The second specimen S-5417 (for host coin) & p. 76 (4th edition; for countermark).
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Man & Lundy), Pre-Decimal Issues, 2nd edition, London: Spink & Son, 2003.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of the Coins of Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man, London: Coincraft, 1999.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, and Todd McKenna, The November 2015 Baltimore Auction, World Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Ray Czabor Collection and selections from the Strong Museum, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2015.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
Link to:
- Scotland 1558 testoon S-5406 Mary only
- Scotland 1558 testoon S-5416 Francis and Mary
- 1561 testoon
- Coins and currency dated 1560
- return to coins of Great Britain, Scotland