Charles I.
The coins of the uncertain mints of this monarch are very interesting, and an attentive and careful
examination of them would probably throw some light upon the wanderings of the mint during the
persecutions of this unfortunate monarch. These pieces have not received the attention they
deserve, and the cause of their neglect has probably arisen from the impossibility of arriving at any
satisfactory conclusion respecting the places of their issue, without having under view, at the same
time, a much greater number of the several varieties of these pieces than any collector has hitherto
had in his possession. Our national collection, though comparatively rich in pieces of this description, is
yet far from possessing a complete series; and, as long as several of the rarer, perhaps unique,
varieties, are dispersed in various private cabinets, it will be extremely difficult to form a reasonable
conjecture respecting their origin; for it is only by frequent and repeated comparative examinations of
the actual coins, that we may hope to arrive at a satisfactory result. No description, no drawing even,
however accurate, will possess those minute touches of workmanship which betray the labours of an
individual artist, inseparably connect one coin with another, and enable us to follow a mint in its
obscure peregrinations from one locality to another, during the troublous and perilous times of
anarchy and rebellion.
The following list is derived almost exclusively from coins which we have seen; in two or three
instances we have relied upon engravings. The nos. correspond with those prefixed to the
descriptions in the body of the work.
Uncertain. Half-Crowns. See p. 176.
- Cross, rev. harp, housings on horse.
- Cross, rev. harp, housings very slight.
- Cross, rev. harp, no housings.
- (P)
- No MM. lion before and after AVSPICE.
- No MM. mullets before and after AVSPICE.
- No MM. lis before and after AVSPICE.
- Thistle or castle, W. under horse, lis before and after AVSPICE.
- Similar, the shield with chainlike garniture.
- Helmet, square shield.
- Lis, SA under horse, rev. helmet.
- Lis, ball under horse, rev. lis.
- Lis, ball under horse, rev. helmet.
- Bugle.
- Plume, ground under horse chequered, rev. legend FLORENT &c.
- No MM. no ground, rev. legend FLORENT &c.
- Small lis, no ground, rev. legend FLORENT &c.
- [Missing]
- Lis. oval shield, lis and annulet before and after AVSPICE.
- No MM. shield, York type with lion's skin garniture.
- Rose, or cinquefoil, pierced.
- Gerb lying down.
- Anchor, square shield.
- Small lis, shield with supporters.
- Small lis, shield with supporters, date 1645.
- Plume, declaration type, 1644. rude.
- Rev. quincunx of pellets, do 1644, rude.
- Plume, A. under horse, 1645, rev. MM. A.
- Plume, A. under horse and under date, 1645, rev. MM. A.
- Plume, A. under horse, B under date 1646.
- Plume, plume under horse, and behind king, 1646.
- Plume, plume under date.
Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 are imitations of the regular Tower types.
Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 have a close affinity to each other, and were probably issued from the same place.
Nos. 11, 12, 13 are closely allied to them, and were probably struck in the same neighbourhood and by
the same artists. Nos. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 seem also to have a close connexion with the above, and
we are disposed to think they must have been produced in the same part of the kingdom, as may,
possibly, Nos. 24 and 25.
Nos. 21 and 22 are very similar to each other, and do not bear any strong marks of relationship to the
others.
No. 14 stands quite alone.
No. 23 is a mere imitation of a Tower type.
Nos. 26, 27 a rude imitation of the usual declaration type.
Nos. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 strongly resemble the Bristol coins, and were doubtless struck by the same
artists, see pp. 179, 180, 181.
Shillings. See p. 186.
- Plume. rev. A.A under date 1645.
- Plume, plume before face, rev. A.A under date 1645. No MM. rev. A.A under date 1645. CUFF.
- Plume, &c. as No. 2. 1646.
- Declaration type, annulets amid the plumes and date.
- Rev. helmet, cross, plume, and lion, castle above shield.
- Rev. helmet, cross, plume, and lion, rose above shield.
- Martlet, rev. boar's head. MB. lately acquired.
- Rev. lion and rose of dots, star before and after AVSPICE.
- Rev. leaf between two quatrefoils, lozenge after each word.
- Lis, rev. helmet between lis and pellets.
- Lis, rev. uncertain object.
- Anchor, rude imitation of Tower type; another less rude in the collection of Mr. Marshall,
Birmingham, has the anchor more like a grapple.
- Ton, rude imitation.
- Ton, rude imitation, different dies.
- Triangle, rude imitation, different dies.
- Triangle, rude imitation, apex downwards.
- Crown, rude imitation, apex downwards.
- Plume., rude imitation, oval shield between C. R.
- Plume, bust like York type, rev. declaration type, 1642, the 4 reversed.
- Lion, rude imitation of later York shillings.
- Lis, rev. lion, EBOR under shield.
- Square shield, CARTVS &c.
- Book, rude imitation of Aberystwith. MARSHALL.
Nos. 1, 2, 3 are of the same family as the half-crowns Nos. 28 to 33.
No. 4 though bearing the same date as No. 3, and a similar type, yet proves by its workmanship that it
was executed at a different place, and by artists who had formerly been engaged at the Oxford mint.
Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 resemble in workmanship the half-crowns Nos. 5 to 10, and were probably issued in
the same districts. No. 10 more resembles the half-crowns Nos. 12, 13.
No. 12 and those following are mere rude imitations of the Tower or York types.
Sixpences.
- B, plume before face, rev. no MM. 1646, declaration type.
- Castle, rev. part of cross, boar's head, lis before and after AVSPICE, square shield.
- Rose, rev. rose, oval shield, CVLTORES &c.
- Rose, square shield.
No. 1, is from the same mint as the half-crowns Nos. 28 and following.
No. 2 certainly from the same mint as shilling No. 7.
No. 3 is a caprice issued from the Tower, probably not intended for circulation.
No. 4 extremely rude imitation of Tower type.
Groats.
- Plume, plume before face, rev. no MM. 1646. declaration type.
- Plume, plume before face, rev. plume, 1646. declaration type.
- No MM., plume before face, rev. plume, 1646. declaration type.
- Rose, armour marked with annulets, rev. helmet.
- Rose, armour marked with dots, rev. helmet.
- Lis, armour marked with dots, rev. helmet.
- Lis, armour marked with dots, rev. lion
Book, rude imitation of Aberystwith type, with the smaller head. MARSHALL.
Nos. 1, 2, 3 from the same mint as half-crowns Nos. 28 and following.
Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 very much resemble in workmanship, shilling No. 7 and sixpence No. 2.
Threepences.
- Declaration type, one plume above, 1645 and no line below.
- Declaration type, one plume above, 1646 and no line below.
- Lis, armour marked with dots, rev. lis, oval shield.
- Plume before face and over shield; very rude.
- Rev. gerb? lying down, square shield.
- Lis, armour marked with dots, rev. lion.
Nos. 1, 2 same mint as half-crowns Nos. 28 and following.
Nos. 3, 6 resemble the groats Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7.
No. 4. extremely rude imitation of a Tower type.
No. 5. appears to be connected with the half-crown No. 22.
Half-Groats.
- Bell, rev. bell, legend blundered, oval shield.
- Lis, armour marked with dots, oval shield.
- Lis, rev. rose or lis, similar to No. 2.
- Square shield, most rude.
- Imitation of Aberystwith type, most rude.
Nos. 1, 4, 5 mere rude imitations of authorized coins.
Nos. 2, 3 resemble the groats Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7.
Farewell.
Mint Marks, Mary and Elizabeth |
Table of Contents |
Plate 1
|
