Charles I, Stuart King 1625-1649

Oxford Mint, by Rawlins. King crowned and wearing armor, holding sword aloft and mounted on war-horse facing left, trampling captured arms, with fluttering scarf and Oxford plume behind, initial mark Oxford Plume in obverse legend; reverse, Declaration of Wellington in three lines within elegant cartouche, lion’s face above scroll, topped by “XX” for denomination of 20 shillings (one pound), single large Shrewsbury plume above, large date 1644 and OX below, surrounded by EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI legend, translating from Latin to mean “Let God Arise [and] Let His Enemies Be Scattered” (Psalm lxviii.1). Extremely rare.This huge silver coin was virtually unknown to the populace at the time of its issue, as examples minted between 1642 and 1644 were reputedly given by the king from time to time as gifts to senior officers of his cavalier army. As such, the quality of the engraving was of singular importance, as was the high silver content of each coin. Few pieces were made.

This specimen is the rarest of all the variants of this acclaimed crown, struck at the very end of its issue period, and ranks among the finest known with a long provenance from Montagu (1896) to Slaney (2015): perfectly centered on each side and deeply struck with full outer beaded rims, the obverse sharply detailed despite slight doubling (shifting of the die), the reverse bold and clear in every detail, on a full choice flan sheathed in antique gray patina, a few abrasions from centuries ago on obverse; all in all, of exceptional eye-appeal in the hand.