Scotland's oldest minted coin is bought for nation

THE earliest known coin minted in Scotland almost 900 years ago - has been acquired for the nation after it was found by a metal detectorist.

- BY LUCINDA CAMERON

The medieval David I silver coin was discovered in a wooded area near Penicuik, Midlothian, and has now been allocated to National Museums Scotland (NMS) by the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel.

King David I of Scotland, who reigned from 1124 until 1153, introduced the country’s first coinage.

It had been thought all his earliest coins were created in a mint in Carlisle, Cumbria, which he took control of in the 1130s.

But the coin found by the metal detectorist bears an inscription showing it was minted in Edinburgh.