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Rare 700-year-old coin discovered in Dornoch field


By Mike Merritt

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The silver penny dates from time of Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots.
The silver penny dates from time of Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots.

Former search and rescue winchman Chris Murray has unearthed a rare coin dating back to Edward 1 in a Dornoch field.

The field belonged to a friend - and it is where Mr Murray has made other exciting fines thanks to a metal detector.

The silver penny dates from time of Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks and the "Hammer of the Scots".

He was King of England from 1272 to 1307.

When he died, he left to his son Edward II an ongoing war with Scotland and many financial and political problems.

Mr Murray, who now lives in the Western Isles, was raised in Dornoch.

He said: "I have been finding coins in that field for years - but this is the oldest.

"It certainly is an exciting discovery as it helps shed more light on Dornoch's past. It has no significant monetary value but is an important historical find. It comes from the reign of Edward 1 and highlights his links to Scotland."

Mr Murray is donating the find to the Dornoch's Historylinks Museum.

A previous discovery by Mr Murray, a religious vesica seal matrix of James Chaplin of Dornoch from around 13th century, was also donated.

A previous discovery by Mr Murray of the religious vesica seal matrix of James Chaplin of Dornoch.
A previous discovery by Mr Murray of the religious vesica seal matrix of James Chaplin of Dornoch.

Edward I was a tall man for his era, at 6 ft 2 in, hence the nickname "Longshanks". He was temperamental, and this, along with his height, made him an intimidating man, and he often instilled fear in his contemporaries.

Nevertheless, he held the respect of his subjects for the way he embodied the medieval ideal of kingship, as a soldier, an administrator, and a man of faith.

Modern historians are divided on their assessment of Edward: while some have praised him for his contribution to the law and administration, others have criticised him for his uncompromising attitude towards his nobility.

Currently, Edward I is credited with many accomplishments during his reign, including restoring royal authority after the reign of Henry III, establishing Parliament as a permanent institution and thereby also a functional system for raising taxes, and reforming the law through statutes.

At the same time, he is also often criticised for issuing the Edict of Expulsion in 1290, by which the Jews were expelled from England. The Edict remained in effect for the rest of the Middle Ages, and it was over 350 years until it was formally overturned under Oliver Cromwell in 1657.


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