[1597/11/73]¹

An act regarding copper coin

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify, approve and confirm this act underwritten made at Dundee, 13 May 1597, of the which act the tenor follows: At Dundee, 13 May 1597. The king's majesty, ²with advice of his nobility, council and estates presently convened, considering how that by the great scarcity of small pennies presently current within this realm not only is the exchange of gold and silver and of all other sorts of wares and merchandise which commonly have been maintained amongst his highness's subjects greatly impeded and hindered, but the poor common people whose indigence and misery has been relieved by the support and comfort which ofttimes they receive by the liberality of such as were moved to pity their estate hurt and prejudiced, and the said exchange likely with time altogether to decay to the great hurt of the commonwealth if timeous remedy be not provided. And therefore his majesty, being moved of pity and commiseration towards the poor without respect to any profit and commodity to rebound to his highness (as indeed his majesty neither seeks nor gets no kind of commodity by the coin following), has, with advice of his nobility, council and estates, thought fit, concluded and resolved that there shall be 100 stone weight of copper unmixed with any other kind of metal wrought and forged in a mill, and by the said mill made ready to the printing after the accustomed form of his majesty's mint-house with imprints and stamps, through which the same be not counterfeit, for making of the said exchange and relief of the indigence and misery of the poor in penny and two penny pieces, each two penny piece weighing three denier and each penny piece weighing one denier, twelve grains, whereof 64 pieces of the said two penny pieces to be in the mark weight, with two of the said two penny pieces of remedy of weight, as well heavy as light on the mark weight thereof, and 128 pieces of the said penny pieces to be in the mark weight with four of the said penny pieces of remedy of weight, as well heavy as light, on the mark weight of the same, having on the one side the king's face, bare headed, with this circumscription: 'Jacobus 6 D. G. R. Scotorum', and on the other side, three thistles distinct, with this circumscription: 'Oppidum Edinburgi', and the said species to have course amongst his highness's lieges for two pennies and one penny each piece. Be it always understood that none of his majesty's subjects shall be astricted to receive the said kind of copper money in payment of debts or other goods, wares or merchandise above the value of 12 pennies each pound and so forth proportionally of all sums great and small; and ordains letters to be directed charging officers of arms to pass and make publication hereof by open proclamation at the market crosses of the head burghs of this realm and other places needful, through which none pretend ignorance of the same; and to command and charge all his highness's lieges to receive the said copper pieces in payment of all goods, debts, wares and merchandise in manner foresaid, and in no way to refuse the same under whatsoever colours or pretences under the pain of treason. And that the master coiner, warden, counter warden and sinker [proceed]³ to the working, forging and printing of the said copper coin in manner foresaid as they will answer to his majesty thereupon etc.