Charles II Double-Crown of Ten Shillings, first issue without mark of value

Charles II (1660-85), gold Half-Unite or Double Crown of Ten Shillings, first hammered issue (November 1660- October 1661), laureate and draped bust left, no mark of value, legend and toothed border surrounding both sides, initial mark crown on obverse only, CAROLVS. II. D: G. MAG. BRIT. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX, colon after D, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, C to left, R to right, .FLORENT. CONCORDIA. REGNA., weight 4.46g (Schneider 385, class I O2/-; N.2755; S.3302). Toned, with red colour on reverse, one light crease, hairline scratch on portrait and other very light surface marks, otherwise about very fine and very 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."

The initial indenture for coinage after the Restoration of Charles II was with a new Master Worker Sir Ralph Freeman on the 20th July 1660 allowing for both fine gold coinage which was used for Angels in the reign of Charles I, and for crown gold 22 carat (0.917 fine) for the denominations of the Twenty, Ten and Five Shillings pieces, so-called Unite, Half-Unite and Crown. Subsequently no fine gold coinage was struck, and the first issue of hammered gold like we have offered here, did not have any denominations upon them, being struck from November 1660 till October of 1661. The second issue with mark of value was struck from November 1661 until October 1662, and was a far larger issue than the first with at least £31,186 worth struck across the three crown gold denominations, as the Mint price they paid for gold was increased in August 1661, it having been below the market value through almost all the first issue. The first issue of gold coinage totalled no more than £8,660 worth, probably less as the latter accounting period eclipsed into the second hammered issue. The survival rates to today seem very low for the first hammered issue coins especially when compared with the second issue. Additionally the smaller denominations than the Unite would typically have lower mintages than the gold coin though there is no known breakdown other than the total output of gold. Again survival rates show more Unites are available than the smaller gold Crowns and Double Crowns.

Herbert Schneider wrote a detailed article about all the dies used on the hammered gold of Charles II in British Numismatic Journal volume 36, in 1967.

Provenance:

Ex A. H. Baldwin, purchased May 2003.

Ex Lord Stewartby Collection, part III, Spink Coin Auction 239, 26th September 2016, lot 1039.

Ex Dix Noonan and Webb auction 166, 23rd January 2020, lot 131.