Heritage World Coin Auctions
January Signature Sale 3089 21-22 Jan 2021
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Great Britain
Charles I gold Triple Unite 1642 AU53 NGC, Oxford mint, Plume mm, KM234, S-2724, N-2381 (VR), Brooker-830. 26.97gm. Variety with declaration between wavy lines and group of four pellets to left. A very fleeting die pairing for this already classical rarity of the English Civil War, and likely one of most famous English coins ever produced. Greatly exceeding any previous denomination that had been struck by the British crown, the gold Triple Unite can quite clearly be taken as a statement piece by the king. Not only in its imagery did it act as an expert piece of propaganda to bolster Charles' claim that he supported "the Protestant religion, the laws of England and the Liberty of Parliament", but by its sheer heft he indicated to his rivals that his relocation from London to Oxford still represented access to a city with rich resources and support. What is more, in January of 1642/3 he also introduced the first regular newspaper printed at Oxford, the Mercurius Aulicus, which in its February 18th issue featured an illustration of a Triple Unite bearing the same die pairing seen here, often regarded as the first ever illustration of a current coin in contemporary print. Finished in a very fine style overall, this specimen seems to eschew the older and cruder die style of the so-called Shrewsbury Triple Unites--while the king is still portrayed in a less-than-realistic manner, the legends are evenly cut and proportioned with just a few areas of incident weakness. Undoubtedly a historic entry in the series, and one not to be missed by serious collectors.
Ex. Baldwin's Fixed Price List (Winter 2014, Item BH048); Spink Numismatic Circular (November 1947, Item 52703)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-charles-i-gold-triple-unite-1642-au53-ngc-/a/3089-31168.s?type=CoinArchives3089
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 80000-90000 USD
Charles I gold Triple Unite 1642 AU53 NGC, Oxford mint, Plume mm, KM234, S-2724, N-2381 (VR), Brooker-830. 26.97gm. Variety with declaration between wavy lines and group of four pellets to left. A very fleeting die pairing for this already classical rarity of the English Civil War, and likely one of most famous English coins ever produced. Greatly exceeding any previous denomination that had been struck by the British crown, the gold Triple Unite can quite clearly be taken as a statement piece by the king. Not only in its imagery did it act as an expert piece of propaganda to bolster Charles' claim that he supported "the Protestant religion, the laws of England and the Liberty of Parliament", but by its sheer heft he indicated to his rivals that his relocation from London to Oxford still represented access to a city with rich resources and support. What is more, in January of 1642/3 he also introduced the first regular newspaper printed at Oxford, the Mercurius Aulicus, which in its February 18th issue featured an illustration of a Triple Unite bearing the same die pairing seen here, often regarded as the first ever illustration of a current coin in contemporary print. Finished in a very fine style overall, this specimen seems to eschew the older and cruder die style of the so-called Shrewsbury Triple Unites--while the king is still portrayed in a less-than-realistic manner, the legends are evenly cut and proportioned with just a few areas of incident weakness. Undoubtedly a historic entry in the series, and one not to be missed by serious collectors.
Ex. Baldwin's Fixed Price List (Winter 2014, Item BH048); Spink Numismatic Circular (November 1947, Item 52703)
https://coins.ha.com/itm/great-britain/great-britain-charles-i-gold-triple-unite-1642-au53-ngc-/a/3089-31168.s?type=CoinArchives3089
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 80000-90000 USD