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Scotland, John Baliol Halfpenny, first coinage, St Andrews Mint
Scotland, John Baliol (1292-6), silver Halfpenny, First coinage, rough surface issue, St Andrew's mint, bust left with upright sceptre contained within inner toothed border, legend surrounds IOhANNES DEI GRA, rev. stars of six points in first and fourth quarters other angles plain, reads CIVITAS ANDRE, weight 0.68g (SCBI 35 [Scottish] - ; Burns -; Holmes and Stewartby 2-a; S.5067; R5 - circa seven examples known). Marginally ragged flan, all the overall lines of the portrait visible, reverse mint inscription clear, good fine for type and excessively rare with roughly 6-7 specimens known.
The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on obverse "John by the grace of God, and on the reverse as "City of Saint Andrews".
When Burns was writing in the late 19th Century the St Andrews Mint Halfpenny was unknown to him at that time.
Provenance:
Ex Mike Vosper (dealer) with a ticket in his hand. Incidentally the dealer has marked his ticket with '1 of 3 known.'