A 500-year-old Scottish groat is expected to be one of the most intriguing lots at Spink's ancient, British and foreign coins auction on Wednesday.

The silver groat, which depicts James IV of Scotland with his flowing locks, is expected to make close to £1,200 due to its rarity and the "good, very fine" nature of its condition.

The king's head ensures the coin could not have been struck any later than 1513, when James IV died at the Battle of Flodden against the English. He was the last British monarch to be killed on the battlefield.

The provenance of the coin is hazy, although Spink states that its condition suggests it has been part of a hoard.

James IV was the last British monarch to die on the battlefield

Spink's William Mackay told the Edinburgh Evening News: "You can tell it has most likely been stored with other coins because it has not been worn away too badly, as it would have been if it was on its own and more exposed.

"We think this was made early in the reign of James IV, and the inscription on the back places it as being made in Edinburgh. The mint would have been a very secure building, probably linked to the government, and would most likely have been somewhere near Edinburgh Castle."

A 15^th century Irish groat from the reign of Edward IV is another lot expected to interest investors, collectors and historians at the sale. It has a top end estimate of £2,000.