Charles II 1662 gold Twenty Shilling piece or Broad, no berries variety, XF45

Charles II (1660-85), milled gold Broad of Twenty Shillings, 1662, laureate and draped bust left, tiny letter S below for engraver Thomas Simon, legend and toothed border surrounding, CAR. II. D. G. M. BR . FR. ET. HI. REX, rev. inverted die axis, crowned quartered shield of arms, date above crown, legend and toothed border surrounding, .FLORENT. CONCORDIA. REGNA., weight 8.90g (Schneider 422; Bull EGC 166 R3; N.2780; S.3337A). Wear to high points with short black streak over bust, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as XF45, the no berry variety and one of three types of obverse, very rare with only approximately 3,400 struck in total.

NGC Certification 2119552-011

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Charles the Second by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland"; and on the reverse "I reign under the auspices of Christ."

This interesting issue, a continuation of the design of the hammered issues into machine made milled coinage carries the initial of the engraver and designer Thomas Simon. Once thought to be a pattern it has since been proven that these were issued for currency and the 82 pounds of gold used equated to no more than 3,400 pieces being made, it is surely one of the rarest milled coins of the reign. For further reading consult "Simon's Mill Gold Coins and Medals of Charles II 1660-62" by Marvin Lessen in the British Numismatic Journal, Volume 65, 1995.

Provenance:

Sincona British Collection, part one, Sincona Auction 72, 21^st November 2021, lot 628.