Groat of James V of Scotland

Paul Stobbs asked me to confirm his ID on the hammered silver coin pictured here.

Paul had correctly identified his find as a groat of James V of Scotland. James came to the throne when he was just one year old, after his father had been killed by the English at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513. However, he was not declared fit to rule until 1524.

This groat was struck at Edinburgh during the second coinage, which commenced in 1526 and ended in 1539. It’s an example of class III and is a scare variety with a trefoil behind the king’s head.

Valuation

A very large number of groats were struck for James V and examples regularly appear on the open market. However, they are not common as detecting finds. This specimen has a few faint scratches on the obverse but is otherwise in about VF condition. A retail price in its present state of preservation wouldn’t be any less than £450.

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