Edward Burns 
Coinage of Scotland [PDF ebook] 

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Widely and deeply regretted; he, at whose instance this work was undertaken, and whose coins it was primarily intended to illustrate, has passed away while yet it was in process of publication. No one can more regret than the author of these pages that they now can never meet the eye of him for whom they would have had the greatest interest.<br><br>In educational matters, particularly in relation to those connected with what, in his first interview with the author, he affectionately called his quaint old town, Mr. Coats was most honourably distinguished. From the first establishment of the Paisley School Board in 1873, till his death on the 15th of October 1883, he acted as Chairman. During this period he subscribed GBP1000 to each of the four new Board Schools, on condition that extra accommodation for the scholars should be provided; by means of which they now enjoy the most airy and well ventilated schoolrooms in Great Britain. For the erection of a new school at Ferguslie he also granted a free site, together with a donation of GBP1000. The beautiful Fountain Gardens were presented by him to the community of Paisley. His last great gift to his native town was the liberally furnished and amply endowed Observatory. To every good cause Mr. Coats was ready to extend a helping hand. He was emphatically a man, the mellowed richness of whose nature nothing could change.