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Auction: 5033 - The Colin Adams Collection of Halfcrowns
Lot: 151

Charles I, York mint (1643-4), Halfcrown, 13.80g., type 1, small equestrian portrait of king in armour left, holding sword upright, ground-line with grass below, reads MAG BRI FR ET HI, rev. square-topped shield, lightly garnished at top and bottom, C R at sides, CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, m.m. lion (JGB 1076 (same dies); Besly 1A; N.2309; S.2863) lightly scratched on obverse, small edge flaw at 9 o´clock, almost very fine, rare Estimate £ 600-800PROVENANCE: J C S Rashleigh, Glendining, 10 June 1953, lot 234 York was Charles I´s ´second capital´, and after being forced to leave London he made his way there, arriving on 19 March 1641/2. The establishment of a mint at York was being planned long before the outbreak of formal hostilities. Nicholas Briot, the King´s engraver, was summoned to York by letter from Secretary of State Edward Nicholas dated 6 May, and the King despatched a warrant establishing the mint at York which arrived on 15 July. Cf. Besly ´Coins and Medals of the English Civil War´, National Museum of Wales, 1990, pp.57-61. In August Charles set off to raise his standard at Nottingham and to recruit his army in the Welsh Marches, and York became a military backwater. The mint finally started production in January 1642/3 and probably remained active until the spring of 1644, when York was besieged. Articles for the city´s surrender were agreed on 15 July 1644.

Sold for
£620