Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 96 14-15 February 2017
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Great Britain. Crown, 1679. S.3358; ESC-56; Dav-3776. Charles II. By John Roettier. Obverse, third laureate draped bust right, CAROLVS II DEI GRATIA. Reverse; Inverted die axis: MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX. Tricesimo Primo on edge in raised letters. Richly toned and nearly mint state this a rare coin indeed in top grades. PCGS graded EF-45. WINGS. Estimate Value $4,000 - 4,500
Charles II was a great patron of the arts and sciences. He loved discussing scientific issues and conducted his own experiments. His primary interests were in clocks and watches (he had seven clocks in his bedroom, each of which chimed at different times) and in navigation. He was the first monarch to have a royal yacht, the Royal Escape, and these two interests came together in his patronage of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1675 under the first Astronomer-Royal, John Flamsteed.
Charles's views on religion were moderate, but for foreign policy and political ends he made a secret deal with the French in May 1670 that he would eventually declare his reversion to Catholicism. In the mid-1670s however an anti-Catholic mood was sweeping England, and there was a fear that personal liberties would be infringed by royal whim. In 1679 - the year of this coin - Parliament passed the act of Habeas Corpus, one of the country's most important items of legislation which protects the individual's freedom from unlawful imprisonment. In 1685 Charles II died of a stroke while still comparatively young and was succeeded by his brother James.
Charles II was a great patron of the arts and sciences. He loved discussing scientific issues and conducted his own experiments. His primary interests were in clocks and watches (he had seven clocks in his bedroom, each of which chimed at different times) and in navigation. He was the first monarch to have a royal yacht, the Royal Escape, and these two interests came together in his patronage of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1675 under the first Astronomer-Royal, John Flamsteed.
Charles's views on religion were moderate, but for foreign policy and political ends he made a secret deal with the French in May 1670 that he would eventually declare his reversion to Catholicism. In the mid-1670s however an anti-Catholic mood was sweeping England, and there was a fear that personal liberties would be infringed by royal whim. In 1679 - the year of this coin - Parliament passed the act of Habeas Corpus, one of the country's most important items of legislation which protects the individual's freedom from unlawful imprisonment. In 1685 Charles II died of a stroke while still comparatively young and was succeeded by his brother James.