Bawbee from the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons
A beebaw was originally a silver coin valued at six Scottish pennies, introduced by King James V in 1538. The name derives from the name of the laird of Sillebawby, master of the Scottish mint at the time of the coin’s introduction.[1]
Under the brief reign of Charles II (1649–1651) the coin was made of copper, but still valued at six Scottish pennies, or half an English penny.[2][a]Following the union of the Scottish and English crowns in 1603,[3] the Scottish pound was fixed at one-twelfth that of the English.[4]