Charles I gold Double Crown Nicholas Briot's first milled issue

Charles I (1625-49), gold Double Crown or Half-Unite of Ten Shillings, Nicholas Briot's first milled issue (1631-32), crowned draped bust left, crown with plain double arches, value .X. behind, all within inner beaded circle, initial mark diamond above B, lozenge stops in legend and outer toothed border surrounding, CAROLVS. D:G. MAG. BRITAN. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX., rev. struck en medaille, crowned garnished quartered shield, crowned C and lozenge to left, crowned R and lozenge to right, inner beaded circle surrounding, lozenge stops in legend and outer toothed border surrounding, terminal mark .B. to left of crown, CVLTORES. SVI. DEVS. PROTEGIT., weight 4.54g (Schneider 281; Brooker 712 this coin; N.2296; S.2720A). Some light hairline marks, lightly toned, good very fine and pleasing, with a great provenance.

Nicholas Briot the Engraver general to the mints of France, introduced his mechanised mill press to the Tower Mint in 1631, and produced at the 22 carat standard two small issues of gold coins in 1631 and 1638, concurrent with the regular hammered issues. The milled issues were engraved to a very fine quality by Briot, like the coin offered here. Briot had gained the King's favour in 1626 after having moved to England in 1625, the King wanting to improve the artistic merit of the nation's coinage, which led to Briot's official appointment as mint engraver in 1634.

Provenance:
Ex Bridgewater House Collection, Sotheby, 15^th June 1972, lot 108.
Ex J. G. Brooker, SCBI 33:712, collection sold through Spink 1978-83.
Ex Dix, Noonan and Webb, Auction71, 28^th September 2006, lot 610.