The New York Sale
Auction 49 15 Jan 2020
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Great Britain
Charles I (1625-49), Silver Pattern Crown of Five Shillings, engraved by Nicholas Briot. Bare headed draped bust left, legend surrounding with inner linear and outer beaded borders, lozenge stops, initial mark flower, CAROLVS. D: G. MAG. BRITANNIÆ. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX. FIDEI. DEFENSOR, rev. armoured King on horseback riding left, with flowing sash and upright sword, stony ground below, small .B. below raised front hoof, legend commencing lower left surrounding with outer beaded border, lozenge stops.HAVD. VLLI. VETERVM. VIRTVTE. SCEVNDVS., weight 19.47g (Brooker 1248 this coin; N.2670). One of only four known examples, has been once gilt with some light tooling striations, some light rim bruises and a couple of digs in fields otherwise very fine and of the highest rarity with an impeccable provenance. Value $15,000 - UP
This intriguing design has always been classed as a pattern for a Crown by virtue of its reverse design and diameter, though the weight is much lighter than a crown would traditionally be. This is certainly the largest bust portrait coin of King Charles I, with Crown size pieces of the Stuart period usually showing a King on horseback like the reverse on this piece. The detail of the design is an amazing example of numismatic portraiture by the Frenchman Nicholas Briot (c.1579-1646) whose first Patent was dated the 16th December 1628 as sole designer of the effigies for the regal coinage with pay backdated to the autumn of 1626.
For further reading about Nicholas Briot see the "John Brooker Collection Coins of Charles I" in the sylloge series, section on page xxvi in the chapter on the "Coinage at the Tower Mint" by J. P. C. Kent and in the chapter entitled "The Patterns" on page xlvii by P. J. Preston-Morley.
The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse, "Charles, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith" and on the reverse "not second in valour to any of the ancient heroes.".
Ex William Simonds Higgs, Sotheby, 29th April 1830, lot 286. Ex James Dodsley Cuff, Sotheby, 26th June 1854, lot 1213, sold for £20. Ex John Alfred Wigan and Edward Wright Wigan Collection, purchased post mortem by Rollin and Feuardent, 1872. Ex James Halliburton Young, Sotheby, 7th April 1881, lot 250. Ex George William Egmont Bieber, Sotheby, 13th May 1889, lot 190. Ex John Gloag Murdoch, Second Portion, Sotheby, 8-13th June 1903, lot 294, sold for £61 where noted that the Mr Cuff had the gilding removed in the near quarter-century he owned it, illustrated on plate IX. Ex Dr Thomas Wakley Jr., Sotheby, 6th December 1909, lot 97. Ex Cumberland Clark, part 2, Sotheby, 22-23rd January 1914, lot 105. Ex Herbert Muspratt Lingford, part I, Glendining, 24th October 1950, lot 135, sold for £80. Ex W. Bertram Thorpe, Fine Crown Pieces, Spink Numismatic Circular, March 1951, item 2865 offered at £85. Ex John Godfrey Brooker, S.C.B.I. 33:1248, collection sold by Spink and Son from 1978. Ex Lord Rodney Smith of Marlow, second collection sold to Spink circa 1983. Ex Herman Selig Collection, part I, Spink Coin Auction 70, 31st May 1989, lot 216. Ex Paul Karon, Spink Coin Auction 129, 17th November 1998, lot 81. Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, June 2000, lot 2330.
Charles I (1625-49), Silver Pattern Crown of Five Shillings, engraved by Nicholas Briot. Bare headed draped bust left, legend surrounding with inner linear and outer beaded borders, lozenge stops, initial mark flower, CAROLVS. D: G. MAG. BRITANNIÆ. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX. FIDEI. DEFENSOR, rev. armoured King on horseback riding left, with flowing sash and upright sword, stony ground below, small .B. below raised front hoof, legend commencing lower left surrounding with outer beaded border, lozenge stops.HAVD. VLLI. VETERVM. VIRTVTE. SCEVNDVS., weight 19.47g (Brooker 1248 this coin; N.2670). One of only four known examples, has been once gilt with some light tooling striations, some light rim bruises and a couple of digs in fields otherwise very fine and of the highest rarity with an impeccable provenance. Value $15,000 - UP
This intriguing design has always been classed as a pattern for a Crown by virtue of its reverse design and diameter, though the weight is much lighter than a crown would traditionally be. This is certainly the largest bust portrait coin of King Charles I, with Crown size pieces of the Stuart period usually showing a King on horseback like the reverse on this piece. The detail of the design is an amazing example of numismatic portraiture by the Frenchman Nicholas Briot (c.1579-1646) whose first Patent was dated the 16th December 1628 as sole designer of the effigies for the regal coinage with pay backdated to the autumn of 1626.
For further reading about Nicholas Briot see the "John Brooker Collection Coins of Charles I" in the sylloge series, section on page xxvi in the chapter on the "Coinage at the Tower Mint" by J. P. C. Kent and in the chapter entitled "The Patterns" on page xlvii by P. J. Preston-Morley.
The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse, "Charles, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith" and on the reverse "not second in valour to any of the ancient heroes.".
Ex William Simonds Higgs, Sotheby, 29th April 1830, lot 286. Ex James Dodsley Cuff, Sotheby, 26th June 1854, lot 1213, sold for £20. Ex John Alfred Wigan and Edward Wright Wigan Collection, purchased post mortem by Rollin and Feuardent, 1872. Ex James Halliburton Young, Sotheby, 7th April 1881, lot 250. Ex George William Egmont Bieber, Sotheby, 13th May 1889, lot 190. Ex John Gloag Murdoch, Second Portion, Sotheby, 8-13th June 1903, lot 294, sold for £61 where noted that the Mr Cuff had the gilding removed in the near quarter-century he owned it, illustrated on plate IX. Ex Dr Thomas Wakley Jr., Sotheby, 6th December 1909, lot 97. Ex Cumberland Clark, part 2, Sotheby, 22-23rd January 1914, lot 105. Ex Herbert Muspratt Lingford, part I, Glendining, 24th October 1950, lot 135, sold for £80. Ex W. Bertram Thorpe, Fine Crown Pieces, Spink Numismatic Circular, March 1951, item 2865 offered at £85. Ex John Godfrey Brooker, S.C.B.I. 33:1248, collection sold by Spink and Son from 1978. Ex Lord Rodney Smith of Marlow, second collection sold to Spink circa 1983. Ex Herman Selig Collection, part I, Spink Coin Auction 70, 31st May 1989, lot 216. Ex Paul Karon, Spink Coin Auction 129, 17th November 1998, lot 81. Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, June 2000, lot 2330.