Merk (coin)

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 (theoretical weight 103.8 grains). Grueber 135

The merk was a Scottish silver coin. Originally the same word as a money 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  2⁄3 of a pound Scots, or about one English shilling), 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 (6.73 g) and was 50% silver and 50% base metals,[2] thus it contained 0.108125 troy ounces (3.3631 g) of silver, worth about £1.45 ($2.27) at August 2013 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.

References

  1. ↑ Marteau, Pierre, English–Scottish currency converter.
  2. ↑ Grueber, Herbert (1970) [1899], Handbook of the Coins of Great Britain and Ireland in the British Museum, London, ISBN 1-4021-1090-1.


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