Exciting Discovery of Scotland’s Oldest Coin
A recent find has brought good fortune to the Scottish Government—a 900-year-old coin featuring a portrait of King David I, believed to be the oldest coin ever discovered in Scotland. This historic artifact is now housed in the National Museums of Scotland.
According to NMS curator Alice Blackwell, the coin was uncovered in 2023 by a metal detector enthusiast near Penicuik, which is about 16 miles south of Edinburgh. Upon its discovery, the find was quickly reported to the Scottish Treasury.
Visually, the coin has aged and shows signs of patina, but the engraving remains somewhat legible. King David I, an important figure in Scottish history, ruled from 1124 to 1153. He is known for restructuring the Scottish government, increasing the royal power, and, interestingly, being one of the few Scottish monarchs to be canonized by the Catholic Church.
In the 1130s, King David I introduced the first coinage in Scotland. Experts believe this newly found coin dates back to the 12th century, making it uniquely significant. Blackwell noted that David I took control of areas like Cumbria and utilized the English mint in Carlisle to produce these coins. In 1157, however, Henry II of England recaptured that territory.
The small coin exhibits an image of King David I on one side, and on the reverse, there’s a design based on a crucifix. Blackwell mentioned, “It also bears an inscription indicating it was minted in Edinburgh, marking it as the oldest known Scottish coin produced by its primary mint.” David I later created additional mints in places like Perth and Aberdeen.
Besides its historical value, Blackwell said the coin is worth a penny in its time; however, she expressed uncertainty about its value in today’s currency. “Determining modern economic value today is complex,” she added, noting that there are no immediate plans to showcase the coin publicly.
Scotland, it seems, is a hotbed for archaeological finds. Recently, excavations at Culloden Battlefield revealed more secrets from Scotland’s bloodiest battle. Plus, archaeologists uncovered intriguing remnants of a long-lost medieval kingdom on Islay, a remote island off the west coast of Scotland.
