John Stewart

John Stewart, 1st Earl of Traquair (c. 1600-1659), silver counter, c. 1635, crowned armorial shield, dividing two double triangles, IOH STVARTVS COM TRAQVARII MAG SCOT THESAR, , rev., scales suspended from the apex of a triangle above a table-top of fleur-de-lis design, HAS RECTO METAS POSVIT DEVS, 28.5mm (MI 275/76; CP.96/4). Very fine and rare.

Sir John Stewart, first Earl of Traquair, was a statesman appointed Lord High Treasurer of Scotland (1636-41) and to the Privy Council of Scotland. In 1639 he was appointed the King's Commissioner to the Assembly in Edinburgh, but was Impeached by Parliament in 1641, and later pardoned by Charles I. In 1647 he raised a regiment of horse to attempt the rescue of Charles I, however he was captured at Preston then later released by Cromwell.