Description
Charles I of the House of Stuart, King of England 1625-1649 AD, Silver Crown of five shillings (29.51g, 40mm), 1645, Provincial coinage, Exeter mint, mintmark Castle (1644-1645), date to left of mintmark type. Obverse: Figure of King Charles I atop uncaparisoned horse cantering to the left, adorned in full military attire with sash over his cuirass which flows behind and holding sword aloft in his right hand and the reigns in left, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “:CAROLVS: D:G: [M]AG: BR[I: F]RA: ET: HI: REX:”. Reverse: Oval shield of arms of the House of Stuart within ornate mantle, inner beaded border and legend which ends with the date surrounds, “:CHRISTO: AVSPICE: REGNO:”. Spink-3058. Flat in parts and weakly struck, typical of the Exeter mint crowns, although notably on a quite neat and round flan with the date, horseman and mintmarks very clear, details good Fine to near Very Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Carolus, Deī Grātiā, Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae Rex”, with an English translation of “Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland”. The Reverse Latin legend reads “chrīstō auspice rēgnō”, with an English translation of “I rule with the patronage of Christ”.