Honours of Scotland

The Scottish Crown Jewels consisting of a crown, a sword and sceptre, are known as the Honours of Scotland. According to roval.gov.uk, the Honours of Scotland are the oldest regalia in the British Isles. The crown, the sword and the sceptre have been designed in the late 15th and in the early 16th centuries, during the regency of James IV, followed by James V, the Grandfather and the father of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The sword of state has been a gift from the pope to James IV in 1507. It is almost 1.4 metres long and consists of a silver-gilt handle, a scabbard of wood covered in dark red velvet and mounted with silver gilt, and a belt of woven silk and gold thread decorated with the arms of Pope Julius. The handle is decorated with oak leaves and acorns which are symbols of the risen Christ and two stylised oak leaves overlapping the blade at the bottom.

The sceptre was given to James IV by pope Alexander VI. It has been remodelled and lengthened in 1536.

The crown comprises Scottish gold from the Crawford Moor mine, is encrusted with 22 gemstones and 20 stones taken from the previous crown. It was made in its present form for James V. In order to recover damages, it has been refashioned in 1540 by a goldsmith named John Mosman. It weighs 1.64kg.

Today, the Honours of Scotland are on public display at Edinburgh Castle.

Sources:

http://www.edinburgh-royalmile.com/castle/castle-crownjewels.html

http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbols/TheHonoursofScotland.aspx