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Auction: 8019 - Ancient, English, Foreign Coins & Commemorative Medals
Lot: 902

Charles I, Shilling, 8.08g, in the style of an siege piece of Scarborough, no mark of value, view of castle, carolj fortuna resurgam engraved around, rev. incuse impression of obverse (N.2651), curious, extremely fine, extremely rare Estimate £ 600-800 provenance Glendining, 5 March 1970. lot 200 Ormond Blyth Collection These pieces, both round and octagonal, all of a similar style, are problematic. They appear as Colchester siege pieces in famous late nineteenth and early twentieth century sales such as Montagu (lots 637-638) and Murdoch (lots 341-343). This attribution was supported by Nelson (BNJ 2, 1905, pp.318-322), who also pointed out that a die from which these seemed to have been struck was discovered around 1780 and was in the possession of a Dr. Gifford who also used it to make restrikes. The whereabouts of this die are now unclear. In more recent times these pieces have been reassigned to Scarborough based on their issue apparently being attested in Sir Hugh Cholmley´´s account of the siege of Scarborough castle. It is though now thought more likely that coins in this style were restruck shortly after the seige or are eighteenth century fantasy pieces. North notes these exist as Shillings only but the weight of this piece is substantially over the usual weight of a Shilling at this time. Despite the uncertainty, these enigmatic pieces retain value as numismatic curiosities.

Sold for
£480