Description
Charles I of the House of Stuart, King of England 1625-1649 AD, Silver Half Crown (15.20g, 34mm), Group 3, Type 3a3, initial mark (P) or (R), Tower mint, London under the authority of the Parliament. Obverse: King Charles I mounted atop horse which advances to the left, crowned and wearing cuirass and studded leggings and holding sword aloft in right hand and reins in left, billowing scarf flows behind from waist, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “[CA]ROLVS· D:G: MAG: BRI: FRA: [ET· HI]B: REX·”. Reverse: Shield of Arms of the House of Stuart within ornate, oval mantle, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “CHRISTO· AVSPICE· REGNO·”. North-2213; S-2778. Typical weakness of strike in parts, a relatively round flan although compact and with some devices off as a result, some interesting severe double striking to reverse causing the effect of a double legend, good Fine, reverse near Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads unabridged as “Carolus, deī grātiā, Magnae Britanniae, Franciae et Hiberniae rēx”, with an English translation of “Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland”. The reverse Latin legend is stated in full as “chrīstō auspice rēgnō”, with an English translation of “I rule with the patronage of Christ”.
