Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 54 9 Dec 2020
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British Coins, Charles I (1625-1649), unite, 1644, Oxford mint, mm. plume, crowned bust left, holding sword in right hand and olive branch in left hand, draped over left shoulder, mark of value XX behind, rev. declaration in 3 lines on continuous scroll, date below, three plumes above, wt. 8.94gms. (S.2735A; N.2389; Brooker 854), extremely fine, struck on a full flan with nearly complete outer beading and clear legends, pleasing gold surfaces and a lovely portrait, rare and especially so in this state
*ex DNW 62 (30 June 2004), lot 107
Valued at 20 shillings when issued, this lovely coin is an excellent example of the king's gold issues minted at Oxford, the college town to which he and his army fled from London as the civil war heated up. Cromwell's troops were in pursuit and the king needed money to pay his own troops and to acquire supplies. His first temporary mint was established in Oxford, which was his headquarters and the principal source of his money from 1642-46. The mint, under the supervision of employees formerly at the Tower, including the talented engraver Thomas Rawlins (who was appointed Chief Engraver in 1645 and later suffered for his allegiance to King Charles), converted silver and gold jewelry, older coins and 'college plate' into new money boldly inscribed with the initials of the new royal mint. After the war ended, the vast majority of these issues were melted over a period of about two centuries-'called in' to be turned into new milled money. This highly sought after, historic coin displays a pleasing portrait of the king, with beautiful rendering of his facial features. Nicely struck on a round flan, it is a true testament to the superior 'declaration' coinage, which succeeded over the previous poorly stuck coinage in circulation before the English Civil War.
(35000-40000 GBP)
*ex DNW 62 (30 June 2004), lot 107
Valued at 20 shillings when issued, this lovely coin is an excellent example of the king's gold issues minted at Oxford, the college town to which he and his army fled from London as the civil war heated up. Cromwell's troops were in pursuit and the king needed money to pay his own troops and to acquire supplies. His first temporary mint was established in Oxford, which was his headquarters and the principal source of his money from 1642-46. The mint, under the supervision of employees formerly at the Tower, including the talented engraver Thomas Rawlins (who was appointed Chief Engraver in 1645 and later suffered for his allegiance to King Charles), converted silver and gold jewelry, older coins and 'college plate' into new money boldly inscribed with the initials of the new royal mint. After the war ended, the vast majority of these issues were melted over a period of about two centuries-'called in' to be turned into new milled money. This highly sought after, historic coin displays a pleasing portrait of the king, with beautiful rendering of his facial features. Nicely struck on a round flan, it is a true testament to the superior 'declaration' coinage, which succeeded over the previous poorly stuck coinage in circulation before the English Civil War.
(35000-40000 GBP)