A Collection of Scottish Coins, the Property of a Gentleman (Part I)

William the Lion (1165-1214), Short Cross and Stars coinage, Phase B, Sterling, Phase B, no mint name, Hue Walter, crude bust left, le rei wilam, rev. hve walter :·, short voided cross, four stars of five points in angles, 1.48g/8h (cf. SCBI 35, 65; B 15, fig. 52; S 5029). About very fine £200-£260

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Scottish Coins, the Property of a Gentleman.

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bt A.D. Hamilton July 1981

Coins of this type have a very distinctive portrait with a triple row of pellets running from the forehead to the neck. It looks so different from previous representations of the king’s hair (as well as contrasting with the beard), it may actually be intended to represent chain-mail which was often formed into a hood.