Description
Charles I, King of England 1625-1649 AD, Silver Twenty Shillings fantasy piece (29.91g, 52mm), struck circa 18th-19th century by an unknown maker. Obverse: Royal Crown above crossed swords, flanked by Oxford Plume either side, initials “CR” and denomination “XX” within swords, legend around, “: CAROLVS: D:G: MAG: BRIT: FRAN: ET: HIBER: REX”. Reverse: The Wellington Declaration of Charles I “RELIG· PROT· LEG ANG· LIBER· PAR” at the centre, date “1645” above, two Oxford Plumes below, outer legend around, “EXVRGAT: DEVS: DISSIPENTVR: INIMICI ·:·:·”. Despite being struck in the image of a Pound of 20 shillings of Charles I, the coin is struck to a weight standard of a Crown of five shillings – with this in mind, it is likely that this piece was struck prior to the Great Recoinage of 1816 which saw the Crown reduced in weight to 28.276g. Nevertheless, it’s an exceptional curiosity and seldom seen available for commerce, and certainly an excellent addition to an English Hammered collection. Extremely Fine for the type.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Carolus, Dei Gratia, Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae Rex”, with an English translation of “Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, of France and of Ireland”. The Reverse Latin legend is stated in full and has an English translation of “Let God arise, and let his Enemies be scattered”; at the centre of the reverse is the Wellington Declaration of King Charles I, the proclamation is stated in Latin and reads “Religio Protestantium, Leges Angliae, Libertas Partliamenti”, with an English translation of “The Protestant Religion, the Laws of England, and the Liberty of Parliament”.
