Charles I 1648 Pontefract Shilling, posthumous issue in name of Charles II

Charles I (1625-49), silver octagonal siege Shilling, issued from the Royalist stronghold of Pontefract Castle, dated 1648 (old style), Posthumous Issue in name of Charles II, issued after execution of Charles I, 30^th January 1648/49 (old style/new style dating), crowned C R, inner linear circle with legend and outer beaded circle surrounding both sides, DVM: SPIRO: SPERO, rev. view of Pontefract castle gateway with portcullis raised, flag flying on central turret, P to left, C to right for Pontefract Castle, OBS reading upwards to left an abbreviation of obsidional meaning the issue is produced under siege, CAROLVS: SECVNDVS: 1648, the N retrograde, weight 4.49g (Nelson type I for name of Charles II cf.fig.47; N.2648; S.3150). Toned a little double struck on right side of crown on obverse, consequently a little weakly struck at top both sides and on high points of castle gateway, otherwise a well centred strike, some very light tooling around some of the obverse beads and rim on right and left side, otherwise good very fine, reverse a little weaker due to strike, a rare and very short lived issue with a good provenance.

The Latin legend on the obverse side translates as "Whilst I live, I hope" with the Charles I monogram, quite ironic as Charles had been executed outside the Banqueting House in London on Tuesday 30^th January 1648 in the old style Julian calendar. The reverse is depicted in the name of his son and rightful successor, Charles II who was touted as the King by the stronghold of Royalists holed up in Pontefract Castle which did not fall to the Puritan roundhead army until 22^nd March 1648/49 (old style / new style), less than two months after the regicide. The Charles II pieces are of four varieties of which this coin is type I as it still carries the ironic obverse of Charles I and was perhaps struck immediately subsequent to the execution and before the "Post Mortem" legends of type II, III and IV were issued. As four varieties were squeezed into the short 52 day period from the day of execution till the 22^nd March the lifespan of striking of this type was no doubt incredibly short. The coin herewith is well centred, though a little weakly struck with a lovely old "cabinet tone" from one being part of the Helen Farquhar Collection cited below.

Provenance:

Ex Spink and Son Ltd, cold to Helen Farquhar at an unknown date for £3.

Ex "Deceased Lady Collector" (Helen Laura Farquhar), Glendining, 25^th April 1955, lot 163 part.

Ex Baldwin of St James, Auction 40, 21st November 2019, lot 55.

London based Helen Laura Farquhar (1859-1953) was one of the founding members of the British Numismatic Society in 1903, and served on council and as Vice-President many times until her passing. She was the first of only two women to date to win a Sanford Saltus Medal from the society, and was the second recipient in 1911 of the 38 so far awarded. Her work on the Tudor and Stuart medallions and badges still being a "must read" for any budding student of the series. Miss Farquhar never married and when she passed away her family insisted the collection be sold anonymously hence the titling of the catalogue. The specialised Charles I Royalist Collection achieved a sum of £6,600 as heralded in the press at the time and she bequeathed and additional fifty pieces to the British Museum Collection.