Charles I Parliamentary issue Unite mm (R), highest rarity AU50

Charles I (1625-49), gold Unite of Twenty Shillings, Tower Mint Under Parliament, group F, bust 7a, class IIa, crowned bust left, with double arched crown, value XX in field behind, all within inner beaded circle, initial (R) both sides (1644-45), pellet stops in Latin legend and outer toothed border surrounding, CAROLVS. D; G; MAG; BRIT; FRA' ET. HIB: REX, rev. crowned quartered shield in frame, crowned C to left, crowned R to right, inner beaded circle surrounding, pellet stops in Latin legend and outer toothed border surrounding, FLORENT. CONCORDIA. REGNA., mint mark at end of legend, weight 9.04g (Schneider 167-8; Brooker 118-9; N.2155; S.2695). Toned with die flaw raised at shoulder, weak in parts, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as AU50 and of the highest rarity with only about eight examples known of this Parliamentary mint mark.

NGC Certification 2130739-018 - currently the lesser of only two examples straight graded and slabbed.

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

The original pyx trial records for this mint mark are combined with the earlier (P) mark and show an output of a mere £135,315 worth of 22 carat crown gold between 29^th May 1643 and 12^th May 1645.

Judging from the fact that two examples of the mint mark of R in brackets still in the Schneider Collection and that two were also once in the Brooker collection, this give a somewhat false impression of availability, because when these two collections were concurrently live they held four out of the five examples known of this mint mark. The Ellerby treasure has added one more example to the total, so we are certainly at six known and perhaps there could be one or two more out there. The Brooker examples could well be the two coins that show as straight graded on the NGC census.

Provenance:

Ex Spink and Son Ltd, purchased May 1968.

Ex Spink Coin Auction 50, 6-7^th March 1986, lot 663 sold for £275 hammer.

Ex Patrick Finn, List 9, Spring 1997, item 20 offered at £850 - Patrick commented only eight examples known to him at that time.