Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3030 5-6 January 2014
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Great Britain
Charles II Crown 1664, S-3355, ESC-28, 2nd Bust, XVI edge, AU58 "Ex Lockett Collection" NGC, a beautiful old-time piece from a famous collection, evenly and sharply struck on both the portrait and the royal shield, King Charles as finely presented as possible (and far better than on most known examples), the raised lettered edge bold as well, the flan having a slightly dished appearance partly because of its high rims and enjoying a most pleasing, well-set golden bluish gray patina. Under a 9x glass, the viewer can discern a slight porosity to the silver and some small ancient abrasions, but finding a more pleasing example would prove difficult indeed. Two great engravers, Thomas Simon and John Roettier, worked on and competed against each other for the earliest coinage of Charles II. Simon of course garnered to himself a tragic disaffection from the king as he had created the dies for Oliver Cromwell's coinage. Despite the glory of his famous Petition and Reddite pattern crowns, the favor of being appointed as chief engraver at the Royal Mint was awarded to Roettier in May 1662. And yet it is known from payments made by the mint that Simon definitely contributed to the die-work for the first coins of the Restoration, the hammered pieces of 1660-62, and that he engraved dies for various minor milled coins. Roettier's pattern crown (ESC-68) showed the king without drapery, while Simon draped the portrait, much as seen on this coin. Simon died in 1665 during the Great Plague. The early crowns of Charles II are attributed to Roettier, yet it is clear that Thomas Simon's influence, if not in fact work by his own hand, distinguished the crowns of this reign, especially those of the 1st and 2nd Bust types. The style continued on the 3rd and 4th Bust styles but they seem less refined, lacking the master's deft touch.From The Formosa Collection
Estimate: 4000-6000 USD
Charles II Crown 1664, S-3355, ESC-28, 2nd Bust, XVI edge, AU58 "Ex Lockett Collection" NGC, a beautiful old-time piece from a famous collection, evenly and sharply struck on both the portrait and the royal shield, King Charles as finely presented as possible (and far better than on most known examples), the raised lettered edge bold as well, the flan having a slightly dished appearance partly because of its high rims and enjoying a most pleasing, well-set golden bluish gray patina. Under a 9x glass, the viewer can discern a slight porosity to the silver and some small ancient abrasions, but finding a more pleasing example would prove difficult indeed. Two great engravers, Thomas Simon and John Roettier, worked on and competed against each other for the earliest coinage of Charles II. Simon of course garnered to himself a tragic disaffection from the king as he had created the dies for Oliver Cromwell's coinage. Despite the glory of his famous Petition and Reddite pattern crowns, the favor of being appointed as chief engraver at the Royal Mint was awarded to Roettier in May 1662. And yet it is known from payments made by the mint that Simon definitely contributed to the die-work for the first coins of the Restoration, the hammered pieces of 1660-62, and that he engraved dies for various minor milled coins. Roettier's pattern crown (ESC-68) showed the king without drapery, while Simon draped the portrait, much as seen on this coin. Simon died in 1665 during the Great Plague. The early crowns of Charles II are attributed to Roettier, yet it is clear that Thomas Simon's influence, if not in fact work by his own hand, distinguished the crowns of this reign, especially those of the 1st and 2nd Bust types. The style continued on the 3rd and 4th Bust styles but they seem less refined, lacking the master's deft touch.From The Formosa Collection
Estimate: 4000-6000 USD