Charles I Pattern Unite of 30 Shillings weight of gold

Charles I (1625-49), Pattern gold Unite of Thirty Shillings, struck in high relief by Abraham Van Der Dort, long haired bust left in lace collar, no mark of value, initial mark lis with stop either side, CAROLVS. D; G; MAG; BRIT; FR; ET. HI; REX, toothed border surrounding each, reverse struck en medaille, crowned oval quartered shield of arms, crowned C to left, crowned R to right, initial mark lis at end of legend (1625), FLORENT. CONCORDIA. REGNA. toothed border surrounding, plain edge, weight 13.89gms, or 214 grains, (cf.WR 22 R5; Farquhar, British Numismatic Journal, first series, volume 5, 1908, page 178 this coin illustrated, N.2655). Light scratch in obverse field with light wear to highest points only, light red tone, small rim abrasion, good VF, reverse better, the only known specimen of this weight for thirty shillings worth of gold, perhaps unique as the only known example to us.

This coin was once part of Helen Farquhar's own personal collection which was sold post mortem at Glendining on the 25^th April 1955 as lot 23. The picture quality is not great in the catalogue as the plates were derived from plaster casts of the coins at that time, but the weight is exactly the same at 214 grains and is described merely as being struck on a heavy flan in high relief. There is a spot of the red casting wax still on the coin below the X in REX.

What is more convincing however is that this coin must also have been in Miss Farquhar's possession back in the early 20^th Century as it is photographed in her own article "Portraits of our Stuart Monarchs on their Coins and Medals - Part I" in the British Numismatic Journal of 1908 page 178, quoted above from a proper photograph. It was however merely used to illustrate the pattern broad of twenty shillings and the significance of the weight was not discussed presumably as it had never been weighed. We assume she acquired it around the turn of the 20^th century.

It could also be assumed that the first time this specimen was weighed was when Spink catalogued the collection for Glendining, after Miss Farquhar's death in 1953. The cataloguer merely noting the flan was heavy. Significantly this lot was only one of three lots in the whole sale to have a weight noted in print. The other two lots being pattern unites by Briot of lighter weights. Perhaps the cataloguer knew there was something significant in the weight difference but was unable to develop the notion further.

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

Provenance:

Ex Deceased Lady Collector (Helen Farquhar), Glendining, 25^th April 1955, lot 23 and plate I, sold for £98.

Ex Dix, Noonan and Webb, London, Auction 71, 28^th September 2006, lot 592.

Ex Ira and Larry Goldberg, sale 48, Hollywood USA, 16^th September 2008, lot 2078.

Ex A H Baldwin, Fixed Price List, Summer 2014, BH103.