Royal coin could have been dropped by king James V

● 500-year-old ‘billion plack’ uncovered during archaeological dig

A 500-year-old coin found in a city park could have belonged to the king whose name it bears, it has been claimed.

The James V “billion plack” was found during an archaeological dig in Stirling’s King’s Park.

Struck in Edinburgh between 1513 and 1526, the copper coin features saltires and crowns on one side and a shield and lion rampant on the other, along with the words Iacobus Dei Gra Rex Scotorum – or James by God’s Grace King of Scotland.

The find’s location, which is Scotland’s oldest recorded royal park, suggests the coin could have been dropped by the king, who used the land in the shadow of Stirling Castle for recreation, including stalking deer.

Stirling Council’s archaeologist Dr Murray Cook, who led the dig, said only the royal household and their guests and servants would have been permitted to use the land.

He said: “This coin was circulated in the reign of King James V, during the golden age of Stirling. It’s not a high grade coin, but where it was found – in the royal hunting park – was for the exclusive use of the royal family.

“This coin has probably fallen out of somebody’s pocket, perhaps while scouting for deer or just admiring the views. The owner is likely to have been a member of the royal household, possibly even James, one of his guests or someone working for them.”

The King’s Park was established 850 years ago – around 1165-75 – by King William I and was later developed for hunting by King Alexander III in 1257. It was used for royal pursuits such as deer-hunting, hawking, riding and archery when Stirling was the seat of the Stewart monarchs.

The park now includes football pitches, a skate park, tennis courts and the King’s Park Golf Course.

The coin was unearthed during an excavation of a prehistoric site partly exposed last year during work to upgrade a path.

The dig uncovered evidence of a dwelling up to 8,000 years old when Scotland’s first hunter-gatherers would have defended the hill. A mesolithic core found during the dig would have been used to make flint tools. Evidence of a fortified roundhouse in use by a tribe was also found, along with Roman pottery.