Book 58

This full illustrated catalogue will become the standard reference work for Scottish coins of the middle and later sixteenth century, which include some of the most beautiful coins ever minted in Britain. The collection at the National Museums of Scotland is undoubtedly the largest and most comprehensive public collection of this series in the world.

The volume covers the period which commenced with the innovations of James V's second coinage in 1526 and concluded with the last of James VI's issues prior to the Union of the Crowns and the consequent harmonisation of the Scottish and English coinages. It therefore includes all the issues of the period during which the Scottish precious metal coinage reached its apogee in terms of artistic excellence and Renaissance-inspired design. Paradoxically, this was also a time during which poor
quality, base metal, coins were minted in enormous quantities. Every coin of the period in the NMS collections is described; every gold and silver piece is illustrated, along with many examples from the large accumulations of everyday coins.

A full introduction gives an account of the history of Scottish coin production from 1526 to 1603, and discusses a pioneering metallurgical analysis of Scottish billon coinage issues.

An essential tool for numismatists, museum curators and coin collectors, this catalogue will also appeal to all those interested in the art of the Renaissance.

Book 70

This new volume in the Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles describes and illustrates the Scottish coins minted between 1603 and 1709 that are held in the National Museum of Scotland's collection. The Museum also holds an important collection of dies and related objects, the majority of which belong to the 17th-century Scottish coinage. These have therefore been included in the volume. Each coin and dye is fully described and clearly illustrated by high quality
photographs.

Introductory chapters discuss the history of the Scottish coinage of the period and contemporary minting practices. With over 100 plates, a list of sources of all the coins, concordances, bibliography, and indexes, the volume is a comprehensive guide to the National Museum of Scotland's collection.