Charles I Halfcrown, Tower Mint Group I type 1a1, initial mark lis

Charles I (1625-49), silver Halfcrown, Tower Mint group 1a1, mintmark lis, first style King on horseback left with raised sword breaking border, inner and outer beaded borders both sides, horse caparisoned with plume on head and crupper, rose on housings, plain ground below, mint mark lis (1625), legend surrounds CAROLVS. D. G. MAG. BRI. FR. ET. HI. REX. rev. flat topped quartered shield of arms on cross fourchée, legend reads CHRISO. AVSPICE. REGNO., weight 14.66g (Bull. 5/1b-S (2-14); Brooker 277; N.2200; S.2763). Toned, with some light scratches above rear of horse and a scuff between legs, otherwise a good very fine, rare so well preserved and scarce as a type, with a good provenance.

The Latin legends translates on obverse as "Charles by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland" and on the reverse "I reign under the auspice of Christ."

We note the total recorded output of silver coins for this initial issue of Charles also includes within the figure the last output of his Father James as mint mark trefoil. The total silver produced from 1^st April 1625 until 31^st March 1626 came to £72,323, quite a small output for all the silver denominations of both Kings.

Provenance:

Ex L.E. Bruun, Sotheby, 18^th-22^nd May 1925, lot 740, plate XIX, sold for £3/3/-

Ex Spink and Son Ltd. 1945.

Ex A.E. Bagnall (portion of the collection purchased by Spink & Son, 1964)

Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, October 1964, item 8082.