Rare Tayside silver coins fetch way beyond auction estimates

Sale: 600-year-old money minted in Perth and Dundee goes for thousands

Two rare silver coins made in Dundee and Perth more than 600 years ago sold for £4,300 at auction, more than double the £2,000 they had been expected to fetch.

An “extremely rare” penny made at the Perth Mint during the 1249-1286 reign of King Alexander III, which was found at Pittenweem in Fife, sold for £2,400 at the auction at Spink in London.

Minutes later, at the same auction, a “very rare” groat, in “very fine” condition, made at the Dundee Mint during the 1371-1390 reign of King Robert II, sold for £1,900.

The 13th Century Perth penny may have lain in the ground undisturbed for about 700 years, but was termed by experts as “fine to good condition”.

Gregory Edmund, a coins specialist at Spink, said: “Our last reference catalogue records this Perth penny as being ‘unique’ or ‘very near so’.

“It is probable that its great rarity relates to the infrequent use of the Perth Mint by the Scottish kings throughout the medieval period.”

Spink confirmed the coin was found at Pittenweem, possibly by a metal detectorist, but they do not know when, or by whom.

Coincidentally, King Alexander III died at the age of 44 in Fife, falling from his horse while riding in the dark to visit the Queen at Kinghorn in March 1286 because it was her birthday the next day.

He had ignored advice from aides who warned him not to make the journey to Fife because of weather conditions.