Charles I gold Crown mint mark anchor below bust MS61, highest rarity

Charles I (1625-49), gold Crown of Five Shillings, Tower Mint, group B, class I, second crowned bust with ruff left, bust variety 2, value behind, beaded circles and legend surrounding, initial mark anchor with flukes right placed below bust on obverse and end of legend on reverse (1628-29), CAROLVS D'. G' MAG (anchor) BR: FR. ET. H: REX., rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, beaded circles and legend surrounding without stops, CVLTORES SVI DEVS PROTEGIT, weight 2.27g (Schneider 232/-; Brooker 194; N.2182; S.2713). Toned a little uneven in shape, some light spotting on obverse, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS61, the finest graded and extremely rare.

NGC Certification 2130739-016, currently the finest graded and the only one with the anchor below bust variety.

The reason for placing the anchor under the bust is regrettably lost to history and very few are known suggesting the issue so marked was very short lived. It is only known for the gold unite and gold crown, no double crown is yet known. We can only trace two other privately held examples of the anchor below bust variety as cited above in the Schneider collection and in the Brooker collection. There is also an example in the British Museum that they acquired in 1920.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on obverse "Charles by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland," and on the reverse "God protects his worshippers." These gold coins are struck in 22 carat "crown" gold.

The mint mark of anchor accounted for a crown gold output of £137,358 worth between 3^rd July 1628 and 26^th June 1629.

Provenance:

Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, June 2004, item HS1725.