Unicorn of James IV of Scotland (r. 1488–1513)
Unknown Artist
1488–1513
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
Diameter: 1 1/16 in. (27 mm.)
Classification
Coins
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Assunta Sommella Peluso, Ada Peluso, and Romano I. Peluso, in memory of Ignazio Peluso, 2002
Accession Number
2002.399.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gold coin, known as the Unicorn of James IV, was minted between 1488 and 3 during the reign of’s King James IV. Measuring just 1 1/16 inches in diameter, the small yet finely crafted piece exemplifies the high status of gold currency in late medieval Britain. As a product of the royal mint, it served both as a practical medium of exchange and a symbol of monarchical power. The unicorn motif, prominently featured on the coin, draws from Scotland’s longstanding heraldic traditions, where the creature represented purity, strength, and national identity. James IV’s era marked a per...