Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mark-pece, n. Also: merk- and -peice, -piece. [Mark n.² 3.] A silver coin of the value of a mark Scots.Coins of this denomination were issued at intervals from the reign of James VI (in 1578 or 1579) to that of Charles II (finally in 1675). The coinage of marks ordered in 1570–1 (see first quot., also 1570 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 139) was appar. never issued.Also half-mark (-pece), quarter-mark (-pece), and ane, tua etc. merk-pece. 1570–1 Reg. Privy S. VI. 202.
The silver money underwrittin of the valour of ane mark and ane half mark … the mark pece having on the ane syde xiii s. iiii d. and the uthir vi s. viii d. 1578 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 147. 1579 Acts III. 150/1.
The haill peice to haue course … for xxvj s. viij d. … and to be callit the tua merk pece, and the half pece to haue course for xiij s. iiij d. and to be callit the merk pece 1583 Edinb. Test. XII. 313 b.
Of merk peces of siluer xxvij extending to the soum of xviij li. … in half merk peces the soum of lxxx li. money 1663 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 149.
The tuo merk peices one merk peices and half merk peices 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 159.
Mair I aclam a mark peice for the pryce of ane ashethre 1679 Thos. Kirke A Modern Account of Scotland (1679) 16.]
[Their money is commonly dollars, or mark pieces, coined at Edenborough 1695 Act 25 July.
Act anent the half ducatdouns and old Scots merk-pieces 1696 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 258.
To pass the saids old merk and halfe merk peices which are only worne … thinner through tyme