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Auction: 5033 - The Colin Adams Collection of Halfcrowns
Lot: 220

Charles I, Exeter mint, Halfcrown, 14.43g., king holding marshal´s baton, mounted on a spirited horse, galloping over arms which include a pistol, CAROLVS D G MAG BR FR ET HI REX, rev. oval scroll garnished shield, date 1642 in small numerals in cartouche at bottom, pellet stops, stops by reverse mintmark, m.m. rose (JGB 1013 (same dies); Besly L22; N.2534; S.3071) evenly struck on a full flan, with a pleasing light tone, fine, an extremely rare and historically important piece Estimate £ 4,000-6,000PROVENANCE: K V Graham, Glendining, 12 June 1963, lot 248 D Dupree, Spink Numismatic Circular, October 1989, no.5408 This famous Halfcrown is now known to have been struck at the Exeter mint at some time during the year 1644, BNJ 1992, p.118. This piece, Besly L22, is struck from the original die pairing. It bears the mintmark ´Truro´ rose on both sides and slightly predates a second issue, struck from a second reverse die with the mintmark ´Exeter´ rose, Besly L25, cf. the Slaney collection, Spink Auction 163, lot 60. It has been suggested that the date, 1642, in the cartouche on the reverse may refer to the raising of the king´s standard at Nottingham on 22 August 1642 at the beginning of the Civil War, and that a plausible occasion for an issue of this exceptional design might be the personal visit of the King to Exeter in July 1644.

Sold for
£6,400