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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unite, Unet, Unitie, n. [17th c. Eng. vnite, unitie (both 1604), vnity (1643); Une v.] A gold coin introduced to mark the Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England under James VI and I. Also attrib. with Pece n. ‘James VI on his accession to the throne of England, with a view to the union of the kingdoms, issued a coinage for both countries … The English 20 s. and Scots 12 l. pieces of equal value now issued were called the unite.' Lauder Jrnl. xliii (q.v. for further information). — 1604 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 278.
That thair be prentit of the said croun gold the fyve spaces of gold moneyis vnderwrittin … ane peice thairof callit the vnite and to haif course in Scotland for tuelff pound Scottis money and in England for tuentie schilling sterling 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 288.
The double angell callit the unet, quhilk is heir current for tuelff pundis, is valued in foreyne pairtis for xiii lib. iii s. quhilk is a full tent pairt moir 1657 Balfour Ann. II 37.
[In 1611 it was decreed that the] pice of golde, called the vnitie, should passe at … 22 shillings starling —attrib. 1625 Brit. Numismatic Journal XXXIX (1971) 119.
Prentit in the saidis vnite peces, double crownis, Britane crownis [etc.]