| James VI: half merk or noble | |
|---|---|
| Crowned Scottish arms flanked by denomination: 6 and 8 | Compound cross fleury, quartered with crowns and thistles. |
| 1577 - AR 6.57 g (theorical w. 103.8 grains). Grueber 135 | |
A merk was a Scottish silver coin. Originally the same word as a mark of silver, the merk was in circulation at the end of the 16th century and in the 17th century. It was originally valued at 13s 4d (exactly ⅔ of a pound Scots, or about one shilling in English coin), later raised to 14s Scots.[1] In addition to merks, half-merk and quarter-merk coins were produced with values of, respectively, 7s and 3s 6d, as well as a four-merk coin of 56s (£2 16s).
The first issue weighed 103.8 grains and was 50% silver and 50% base metals,[2] thus it contained 0.108125 troy ounces of silver, worth about £1 at modern prices.
Markland or Merkland was used to describe an amount of land in Scottish deeds and legal papers. It was based upon a common valuation of the land.
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