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 23 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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