Almost a full set of Scotland Ryals

DennisH

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

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

skingspan

Wow, that is quite a set!!!!

harasha

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

That is a very cool set!

WillieBoyd2

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

Fantastic set!

worldcoinguy

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

Nice job, Dennis.

SaorAlba

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

Very nice coins.

asheland

Those are very cool indeed!

Hussulo

Fantastic set. Love it.

lordmarcovan

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

<< <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

Very cool set!

WorldTypeSet

Wow, great set. Keep it up.

dcarr

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

DennisH

<< <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

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

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.