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A medieval silver coin, believed to be the earliest coin ever minted in Scotland, has been added to the nation’s collection after being uncovered by a metal detector enthusiast. This ancient artifact, dating back nearly 900 years, was discovered in 2023 within a wooded area near Penicuik, Midlothian. Experts have dated the coin to the late 1130s, placing it firmly within the reign of King David I.
Following legal procedures, the coin was reported to Treasure Trove and subsequently allocated to National Museums Scotland (NMS) by the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel. Valued at £15,000, this sum was awarded to the finder by the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer as a reward for the significant discovery.
The NMS intends to use the coin for academic research, although there are plans to display it publicly in the future. King David I, who ruled from 1124 to 1153, is credited with introducing Scotland’s first official coinage. Senior curator Alice Blackwell explained that most of David’s earliest coins were believed to have been produced in Carlisle, Cumbria, which he controlled during the 1130s. However, she highlighted the importance of this discovery: “This coin is really significant because it’s the first of that earliest type, the earliest coins to actually have been minted outside of Carlisle. It was minted in Edinburgh, so it’s the first time that we have Scottish coinage being minted in what was a core part of the Scottish kingdom.”
The coin itself features the monarch’s portrait on one side and a cross-based design on the reverse. It also bears an inscription confirming its origin from Edinburgh. This find sheds new light on medieval minting practices in Scotland, an area with very few surviving documentary records. Dr Blackwell emphasized, “The coins themselves are the primary source. This is the first time that we can see this very early minting of coinage in Edinburgh.” Such discoveries are invaluable for understanding the origins and development of Scotland’s monetary system during King David I’s reign, which later expanded to include mints in Perth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Aberdeen, St Andrews, and Roxburgh. In addition to launching the first coinage, David’s rule saw the establishment of royal burghs and significant civil reorganisation, laying foundations for Scotland’s medieval economy and governance
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