328 



" Mr. Lindsay observes, that there are ' many mint and 

 privy marks (probably the notable signs directed by the Act 

 of 1365), particularly on the larger coins' of David II.; and 

 that the coins of Robert II. ' resemble in type those of his 

 predecessor, but exhibit fewer privy marks or ornaments, the 

 only remarkable one being the letter b behind the king's head 

 on several of the groats' (View of the Coinage of Scotland, 

 p. 20 and 22). 



" The signification of this letter b has given rise to much 

 discussion, but Mr. Lindsay, with much probability, conjec- 

 tures that it is the initial of Bonachius of Florence, who was 

 moneyer of Robert III. in 1393. 



" Five of those spurious coins exhibit the ' notable sign' 

 or privy mark, as it is usually called. The groat of David, 

 No. 3, has a small D along with the pellets, in the quarter of the 

 reverse corresponding with the letters vill. Tvs o of Robert's 

 groats, Nos. 4 and 5, have a cross behind the king's crown. 

 No. 6 has a large B in the same situation ; and No. 7 has the 

 small b (the only mark noticed by Mr. Lindsay), which also 

 occurs on the Perth half-groat, No. 13, which is a genuine 

 coin, very nearly of the standard weight. 



" The existence on the coins of Robert of two privy marks 

 (the cross and large B), which have not been observed on his 

 genuine groats, is remarkable. That similar marks were used 

 by the authorized moneyers, and that the originals will be dis- 

 covered, may be assumed, for it is not to be supposed that 

 forgers who so closely imitated the types and varieties of the 

 regal coins would venture to adopt marks which were in- 

 tended to distinguish the coinage of 1365 from all other 

 money already struck, or, in the words of the Act : ' And 

 ane notable sign sal be upon it, quhereby it may be evidently 

 knawen fra all other money alreadie striken' (Cardonnel, 

 Numismata Scotia?, Appendix, No. V.) 



" It now only remains to attempt to fix, with as much 



