Pre-Long Beach Auction #91

Great Britain. Oxford Mint Crown, 1643 NGC AU58. S.2946A; North-2405; Dav-3770. Charles I. Declaration type. Shrewsbury die with groundline. Obverse, superbly detailed image of king left, upon stylised horse. Legend reads: CAROLVS: D:G: MAG: BRIT: FRAN ET HIBER REX. Reverse, legend: RELIG: PROTLEG ANG LIBER: PAR between two horizontal lines, with mark of value V (5 shillings) and three Oxford plumes above, date (1643) below.
A magnificent example of this crudely-made issue, and virtually mint state. Fully round, well centred, evenly struck, and of full weight (29.5 grams). The coin has a delightful grey and green old tone. Superior to the E.D.J Van Roekel and Slaney specimens, others in other recently offered collections. Practically uncirculated and extremely rare thus. NGC graded AU-58.
* After the Battle of Edgehill in October 1642, the King found that his path to London was blocked by the forces of Parliament, and as London was now the stronghold of the Puritan party, he had to choose an alternative (Royalist) capital city. Charles quickly took the remains of his army and his sons (Charles and James) together with the Princes Rupert and Maurice into Oxford.
In many respects Oxford was not an ideal base, and the city was far from the coast, which made it difficult to import vital supplies from continental Europe.
Having made his headquarters at Oxford, however, Charles I set up a mint by proclamation there. Numerous carts arrived from Shrewsbury in early January 1643 bringing into the city the mint workers and the necessary coining plant and apparatus. At a similar time minting equipment and workers arrived in Oxford from York, and eventually such remarkable names as Thomas Rawlins, Nicholas Briot and Nicholas Burghers were working together in Oxford, to produce the King's coins. This exceptional Oxford mint Crown piece was made as a result of the King's determination to continue his numismatic tradition despite his hitherto unprecedented circumstances. Estimated Value $14,000 - 16,000