An Edinburgh woman has shared photos of a rare coin she found on a beach that is more than 200 years old.
Dan Buchanan, 24, and Aaron McCormack, 25, were at Loch Tay on Saturday afternoon when the amazing discovery was made. The two were searching for stones to skim on Kenmore Beach on the shore of the loch when Dan spotted the old coin.
The coin appears to be an 1820 George III Silver Half Crown, which were issued between 1816 and 1820. The head of the coin features a portrait of George III, with an inscription around the edge reading: "GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA".
Meanwhile, the reverse depicts a large shield divided into four quarters with a crown at the top. This side of the coin has an inscription around the edge reading "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE", which approximately translates to: "Shame on anyone who thinks evil of it".
Speaking to the Daily Record, Dan said: "Me and my boyfriend were at the beach skimming stones in Kenmore—while I was searching I came across the coin in the sand. I thought it could have been a metal button or something of that nature.
"I showed it to my boyfriend to see what he thought it was and he then realised it was actually a coin. We originally thought it was Roman but noticed it said 1820 on it so we quickly googled and could see from the search that it was a UK George III shilling."
The coin would have been issued during the final year of George III's life and reign, as he died in 1820 at the age of 81. The final years of the King's life saw a major overhaul of British coinage, with the Royal Mint being moved from the Tower of London to Tower Hill and the introduction of new steam-powered coinage presses.
George III is among the longest-reigning monarchs in British history, being King from 1760 to 1820. During his 59 years on the throne, he oversaw many military conflicts. Among these was the American Revolution, and so he is commonly referred to as "the King who lost America".
Dan added: "After realising how old it was and that it was a legitimate coin we were so shocked and fascinated at the history behind it and the fact that I had even found it on a really pebbly beach with lots of driftwood from the storm a few days before, it felt like a one in a million find. It really set the tone for the rest of our trip, we were absolutely ecstatic.
"We plan to report it and hopefully get to keep it. We want to clean it up and have it as a keepsake forever as an amazing memory from our weekend in Loch Tay."
She posted their discovery on the Love Scotland Facebook group and the post has received more than 3,700 likes from fellow Facebook users. With over 170 comments, many were also keen to share their thoughts on the amazing find.
One wrote: "Enjoy the experience! Wow fascinating piece of history."
A second echoed: "Amazing find! Congratulations!"
"Wow, hang on to it," commented a third, while a fourth suggested: "Wow that’s really cool, clean it up and make a bezel for a necklace."
Meanwhile, another shared: "How fantastic is that! I would have been beside myself."
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