Penny of David II

Lots of Scottish coins turn up as detecting finds in England. Indeed, some types are unearthed far more often in England than in the country in which they were made. The most regular finds are pennies of Alexander III and various hammered silver coins of James VI and Charles I.

Pictured here is a penny of David II, whose dates are 1329 to 1372. Coins of this Scottish king don’t turn up anything like as often as the others I have mentioned. This specimen was found by George Bates, who asked if I could provide him with a full ID and a valuation.

On the obverse, in front of the left-facing crowned head of King David, is a sceptre with a star at the base of the handle. On the reverse is a cross pattee with a five-pointed mullet in each angle. The mint signature tells me that this penny was struck at Edinburgh.

All the characteristics just mentioned point towards this penny being struck during David’s third coinage. In Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands pennies of this type are listed as number 5130.  

Valuation

The flan is a little irregular and flat in places but the coin is otherwise in Fine condition. I’ve seen far worse specimens, so to a collector this David II penny shouldn’t be worth any less than £80.

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