Help ID Scottish coin

[Matteo95]

Hi all,

Any help for this coin would be very appreciated, unfortunately I don't own any book on the subject. Thanks

The material seems to be silver

Weight: 1.54g 

Diameter: 20 mm

 

[Matteo95]

The date should be 1603 or maybe 1605.

[Rob]

Eighth coinage, 1603 quarter merk. Spink 5499. I don't know anything about them, but the weight is about right for a slightly clipped  coin (a full weight merk is 104.75 grains) and the metal is 916 silver. The price in the last Spink book is 125 fine and 425 VF.

[Matteo95]

Thanks you Rob ! You have been of great help, alone I would not have classified it.

It is seems to be a scarce date https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vcoins.com/en/stores/sovereign_rarities/263/product/scotland_james_vi_1603_quarter_merk_extremely_rare_date/1095141/amp.aspx

[Paddy]

Nothing like as scarce as a £500 price ticket would suggest! A quick search on Ebay's completed listings finds two of similar period sold for £50 and £60.

EG: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-James-VI-quarter-thistle-merk-Scottish-hammered-Coin-1601-/353341519725?hash=item5244cbb76d%3Ag%3AJTkAAOSw-6xfQUWF&nma=true&si=sdsWcVmnWAUu62OHx12jAVvAjjE%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

and while the condition of yours may be slightly better, not enough for a 10x increase. - in my view.

 

[Matteo95]

Thank you Paddy 

I guess you're right, I thought that price could be high too ... Even if it seems that the coins was sold (but they are a great dealer).

In any case the date 1603 seems to be quite hard to find compared to the 1601 and 1602. I tried to see on the traditional online archives like acsearch or sixbid's archive and I found just an other 1603 quarter merk sold by DNW with two 1/8 merk 1062 in 2017.