Charles I Unite mm sun over eye

Charles I (1625-1649), gold Unite of Twenty Shillings, Tower Mint Under Parliament, group G, class II, bust 8, crowned bust left, with double arched crown, value XX in field behind, all within inner beaded circle, initial sun struck over eye (1645), pellet stops in Latin legend and outer toothed border surrounding, CAROLVS. D; G; MAG; BRI; 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 sun at end of legend, weight 8.97g (Schneider 170-171; Brooker 121 this coin; N.2157; S.2696). Toned with some raised die flaws in field, a little weakly struck at same central part both sides, otherwise good very fine and extremely rare, less than ten pieces known of this mint mark, two of which are in the Schneider collection, this example with the sun over eye obverse strike being perhaps even rarer as we can trace only one other slightly inferior example in private hands, extremely rare.

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."

Provenance:

Ex Bridgewater House Collection, Sotheby June 1972, lot 101.

Ex John G Brooker Collection 121, sold privately through Spink before 1983.