Charles II (1660 - 85)  Read about Charles II

 

 

 

Tin with a Copper Plug

 

WCA-9042:  1684 Charles II Tin Farthing - Choice.  S.R. 3395, Peck 532.  This ill advised tin issue was initiated under Charles II in 1684 in an attempt to help out the ailing Cornish tin industry.  In 1692 it was gone, never to appear again.  These tin coins had an alarming rate of wear from circulation. The Ferryman’s hoard of W&M tin coins from the River Thames in the 1970’s was made up of 1690 through to 1692 tin coins. There were no copper 1694 coins leading to the conclusion that the purse was dropped into the Thames 1693 or earlier. Of the many coins, the 1690’s were all very worn, the 1691’s quite worn and the 1692’s being at least somewhat worn. The 1690’s coins could only have been in circulation for three years or so but they were all very worn. Even the coins that had been in circulation for only up to a year or so were worn. This illustrates just how hard it is to find high grade tin coinage. As well as wear, the tin coinage corrodes in air and the soil (tin was far too reactive a metal to be used for coinage, something it took the mint 8 years to realise) so high grade examples, invariably out of the Thames (anaerobic conditions), are at a premium - this coin must have been one of those such coins.  Counterfeiting was clearly a consideration as every tin coin that left the mint had a copper plug – designed as an anti counterfeiting measure.  Perhaps the Mint ought to have had similar considerations just a few decades on, during the mid to late 1700’s, when towards the end of the century, counterfeit (and we’re talking really obvious / very little effort re dies or even the final product) “copper” coins literally outnumbered the genuine coinage in circulation!  The very best grade example tin Charles II farthing I have ever had.  The obverse and edge legend are exceptional.  You can even see the mint adjustment marks on the obverse!  £1,685

 

 

 

Hammered Silver

 

Sixpence

 

WCA-7624:  Charles II Restoration Period Hammered Silver Sixpence.  The rarer first issue with no inner circles and no mark of value.  Old crease.  S.R. 3309.  A rare coin.  £495

 

WCA-7110:  Charles II Restoration Period Late Hammered Silver Sixpence.  Initial mark Crown, 1660-62 but nearer 1662 as this is the last Third Issue.  After this, there were no more hammered coins struck for currency.  S.R. 3323.  A decidedly handsome coin.  £655

 

 

 

Pence

 

WCA-7032:  Charles II “Restoration” Period Hammered Silver Threepence.  Third issue, struck late on in that brief window of 1660-62, after which hammered coinage was officially superseded by milled coinage.  Large flan.  S.R. 3325.  The top image (Canon camera using daylight bulb) was a bit of a disaster so I’ve included the bottom image (cheap camera phone using natural indoor winter daylight) which is unaccountably more representative.  £155

 

WCA-7033:  Charles II “Restoration” Period Hammered Silver Halfgroat.  Third issue, struck late on in that brief window of 1660-62, after which hammered coinage was officially superseded by milled coinage.  S.R. 3326.  The top image (Canon camera using daylight bulb) was a bit of a disaster so I’ve included the bottom image (cheap camera phone using natural indoor winter daylight) which is unaccountably more representative.  £155

 

 

 

Milled

 

 

Guineas

 

WAu-7816:  1673 Charles II Restoration Period Milled Full Gold Guinea.  Fourth laureate bust with the rounded truncation.  John & Joseph Roettier dies with Blondeau’s machinery – the milling on the edge of the coin was a safeguard against clipping which had been not just a thorn in the side of every hammered period, but rather a stake.  The practise of clipping officially ended here after several hundred years.  The Guinea was so named because some of the gold bullion used came from the country of Guinea, via the Africa Company.  It was a 20 shilling denomination, directly replacing the short-lived 1662 gold Broad of 20 shillings.  The racehorse aficionados among you are probably crying out “21 shillings, 21 shillings!” but revaluation of a guinea to that amount took place in 1717 under George 1st.  Incidentally, there were times prior to 1717 where the actual value of a guinea (and remember, the value of any coin, guineas very much included, was entirely based on the precious metal content) was even higher than 21 shillings due to market fluctuations in the value, or spot price of gold.  S.R. 3344.  No mount marks.  £2,775