Almost a full set of Scotland Ryals

DennisH · March 29, 2015 12:53AM

As requested in a different thread. Just need a 1568 to complete the set. Obverse design was changed in 1567 (from a turtle climbing a palm tree, to a sword) when Mary Queen of Scots fled the country and her infant son James VI became ruler.

Weiss · March 29, 2015 1:28AM

Those are awesome. And appear to be so well matched!

skingspan · March 29, 2015 1:31AM

Wow, that is quite a set!!!!

harasha · March 29, 2015 2:39AM

Really impressive. I have been thinking of acquiring one, only to have as an exemplar. May be quite a while on my wish list, though.

JCMhouston · March 29, 2015 6:18AM

That is a very cool set!

WillieBoyd2 · March 29, 2015 8:21AM

I recently read Antonia Fraser's biography of Mary Queen of Scots,
and didn't remember seeing much about her coinage except for a photograph.

After seeing these coins, which are amazing, I wonder what the palm tree and tortoise meant.
There are lots of explanations.

TwoKopeiki · March 29, 2015 8:34AM

Fantastic set!

worldcoinguy · March 29, 2015 12:01PM

Wow - thanks for taking the time to post. I love the consistency of the set. I have been intrigued by the series since I saw your post several years ago. I dont see these in dealer inventories often.

nicholasz219 · March 29, 2015 2:12PM

Nice job, Dennis.

SaorAlba · March 29, 2015 8:28PM

The tortoise climbing the palm tree was a crest of the Darnley family that was used during Mary's rather abbreviated marriage to Henry Darnley. It reflects what you have to love about Mary's coinage - so much of her personal travails are played out on her coinage. Her regents had their initials on her coinage during her minority, then later on Francis had his name and titles - then Henry. The only husband not noted on her coinage was James Hepburn, Lord Bothwell.

bosox · March 30, 2015 3:48AM

Very nice coins.

asheland · March 30, 2015 5:15AM

Those are very cool indeed!

Hussulo · March 30, 2015 7:43AM

Fantastic set. Love it.

lordmarcovan · March 30, 2015 2:25PM

That's amazing. I like the 1565 the best; not just because of the color, but because it's 400 years before my birthyear.

DennisH · March 30, 2015 2:27PM

<< <i>That's amazing. I like the 1565 the best; not just because of the color, but because it's 400 years before my birthyear.

>>

Me too... by far. And the 1567 Sword needs to be replaced with something nicer.

Nap · March 31, 2015 11:33AM

Very cool set!

PBRat · April 4, 2015 12:41AM

Wow, great set. Keep it up.

dcarr · April 5, 2015 10:35PM

Nice set !
Why do some have a thistle counter-stamp and others do not ?

DennisH · April 6, 2015 3:39AM

<< <i>Nice set !
Why do some have a thistle counter-stamp and others do not ? >>

I suppose because the government's order to the public to bring them in for revaluation wasn't trusted by everyone.

WillieBoyd2 · April 6, 2015 8:42AM

From the PCGS website:

Many examples also bear a thistle counterstamp that was applied by the government in 1578 to increase their value to 36 shillings and 9 pence
after several years of inflation and rising bullion values.

nicholasz219 · April 7, 2015 5:31PM

This is one of the reasons I love this forum. Always learning something new. I had no idea about the turtle or the revaluations or really anything about this line of coinage.

Almost a full set of Scotland Ryals

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