Charles I 1645 Newark Shilling, earliest issue from the siege town, round crown

Charles I (1625-49),silver obsidional Newarke Shilling, 1645, Royal crown of oval shape, C to left, R to right, denomination XII below in Roman numerals, beaded border both sides,rev.three line inscription and date, OBS / NEWARKE / 1645, weight 6.01g (Nelson type a and fig.28; Hird 247-8; Brooker 1223; N.2640; S.3143).Toned, weak in parts good fine to almost very fine and the earliest and rarest issue of the Shilling.

Newark in Nottinghamshire was besieged a number of times in the Civil War and the siege pieces were issued with dates of 1645 and 1646, the Shilling being the first denomination to appear with a crude ovoid crown design and with an E on the end of the town name styling it as "Newarke" as we have offered here.

The next denomination issued was the Ninepence in unison with the Shilling after a revision of the crown style. Later in 1645 the Halfcrown appears when all three of the denominations are styled with the town name as "Newark" like we have demonstrated herewith.

Finally, the Sixpence appears for use dated 1646 and is consequently the rarest of the denominations. The letters OBS: are an abbreviation of the word obsidional which means "of the siege."

Newark surrendered to the Parliamentarians on the 6th May 1646.

Provenance:

Purchased originally in November 1945 by A. W. Lainchbury from "XCB" - possibly ex Carlyon Britton? Written on an old B. A. Seaby ticket.

Ex A. W. Lainchbury Collection, Dix Noonan and Webb, Auction 122, 2^nd April 2014, lot 105.

Ex Chislehurst Collection, Dix Noonan and Webb, Auction 179, 9^th September 2020, lot 74.