Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 5033 - The Colin Adams Collection of Halfcrowns
Lot: 221

Charles I, Exeter mint, Halfcrown, 14.34g., 1644, short portly figure of king in profile holding sword upright, on small ill-proportioned horse walking left, sash flies out in two small loose ends, reads M BR FR ET HI, rev. oval shield garnished with five small and one large scroll, CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO 1644, pellet stops, m.m. ´Exeter´ rose (JGB 1047 (same obv. die); Besly M31 (this coin); N.2564; S.3074) a superb example, very slightly double struck on horse´s head, otherwise deeply toned on a large flan, almost extremely fine, extremely rare Estimate £ 3,000-4,000PROVENANCE: E W Rashleigh, Sotheby, 21 June 1909, lot 945 H Farquhar, Glendining, 25 April 1955, lot 126 Dr E Burstal, Glendining, 15 May 1968, lot 460 D Dupree, collection purchased en bloc by Spink, 1989 P Hunt, portion of collection purchased privately by Colin Adams, March 2000 From 1644 all Exeter coins were dated and a new mintmark, the larger and more open ´Exeter´ rose was introduced. Two new Halfcrown obverse dies, M and N, were brought into use. Die M, with this distinctive portly horseman was very short-lived. Besly could only record seven examples from four die-pairings, three of which, including M31 (this coin) are known from a single surviving coin. Die N, bearing the well-known ´twisted tail´ horse type, cf. lots 222 to 226 below, remained in use until the end of minting in 1645-6.

Sold for
£7,000