Charles I gold Unite, initial mark African head, overstruck letters rev.

Charles I (1625-49),gold Unite of Twenty Shillings, Tower Mint, group B, with overstruck letters in reverse legend, second crowned bust left, value XX in field behind, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding, initial mark African head (1626-27), .CAROLVS. D; G; MAG; BRI; FR; ET. HI; REX., rev.crowned and garnished quartered square-topped shield of arms, Latin legend without stops and beaded border surrounding, FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, the D struck over a C and the A following struck over R, weight 8.95g (Schneider 122; Brooker 34; N.2148; S.2687).Once cleaned with some creasing and weakness, otherwise with a very clear mint mark each side, very fine, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as AU details cleaned, rare and unusual with the overstruck letters in the reverse legend and a good provenance.

NGC Certification 8221159-005

The abbreviated obverse legend translates as "Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland" and on the reverse "Through concord kingdoms flourish."

The recorded gold output for this mint mark amounts to £255,846 worth of crown gold coins issued from the 8^th November 1626 to 27^th April 1627, actually the second highest of the reign, the highest being of the plumes mint mark later at over £337,000 worth. The output would also include gold double crowns and crowns, but despite the high figure this mint mark is one of the harder ones to come by as survival rates seem low.

Provenance:

Ex John G. Brooker Collection, Coins of Charles I, Sylloge 33, number 34.

Ex Monetarium Australia, May 2008.

Ex Dix Noonan and Webb, Auction 136, 8^th June 2016, lot 171.