A rare penny that depicts a 12th century Scottish king will be put on display in honour of King Charles III's coronation.
Discovered by an amateur detectorist, the silver coin features Malcolm IV, who ruled Scotland from 1153 until his death in 1165. It will be exhibited in Dunfermline, which was bestowed city status by Charles in 2022.
The coin, which dates back to the time of Malcolm IV's rule, will be put on display near the historic Dunfermline Abbey where he was buried. Weighing under 1.5g, it will be shown in the reading room at Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries until June 30.
Curator at OnFife—which manages the exhibition venue—Kirke Kook commented: "The coin is a reminder of Dunfermline's role as a seat of royal power in medieval Scotland and is the oldest Scottish coin in our collection. It also offers a rare and tantalising glimpse into the life and reign of a young king, who faces many challenges during his relatively short time in power."
The penny, which measures 2 centimetres in diameter, is believed to be only the fifth of its kind discovered. It was found in a field near the coastal town of Aberdour in Fife back in 2020.
One side of the coin depicts the bust of Malcolm IV flanked by sceptres, while the other features a medieval symbol referred to as the cross fleury.
Malcolm was only the second Scottish monarch to issue coins, with the first being his grandfather David I. It is likely that the coin was minted in the Scottish Borders, at either Roxburgh or Berwick.
Throughout the king's rule, he was dogged by ill health and was threatened by other claimants to the throne, including Henry II of England and Fergus, Lord of Galloway. Due to the fact that he only reigned for 12 years, relics related to his rule are rare.
Alongside the coin, the official documents that confirmed Dunfermline as a city, which include Charles' signature, will also be put on public display for the first time.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
