Charles I gold Unite, Tower mint initial mark African Head, NGC AU58

Charles I (1625-49),gold Unite of Twenty Shillings, Tower Mint, group B, 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, mint mark at end of legend, weight 8.93g (Schneider 122; Brooker 34; N.2148; S.2687).With some patchy red tone mainly on reverse, with a decent portrait, flatter in parts of legend and rim, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as AU58, rare mint mark.

NGC certification 8221159-006 - we note this coin is currently the finest graded of this mint mark and the top of the population of five pieces, PCGS have not assessed any of this mark.

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 Stephen Album Auction 16, 17^th May 2013, lot 1722.

Ex A. H. Baldwin, Fixed Price List, Summer 2013, item BH048.