Charles II 1660 Twenty Shilling/Unite
Struck at the start of Charles II reign and the restoration of the Monarchy.
Very rare earlier type and doubly rare as so well struck. A superb piece. Significantly the last of the hammered coins of England.
Charles II was one of the most beloved British King and was known as the ‘Merry Monarch’ because of his hedonistic court.
In the 1640’s Charles I was in a bitter war with both parliament and the puritans in the first English Civil War. Charles I took his young son (also named) Charles to battle with him and in 1645, at only 14, the young prince was named commander of the English forces in the west country. The following year Charles I was losing the war and surrendered. His son escaped the country for his own safety and joined his mother (who was the sister of Louis XIII) in exile in France.
In 1648 the second English Civil War started and Charles (still only 18 years old) moved to The Hague in hope of raising an army through his his sister Mary who was married to William II Prince of Orange. Unfortunately Charles was too late to save his father and in 1649 he was was executed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell - England became a republic (or less generously a military state).
Charles tried on several occasions to raise an army to take back the throne but caused much friction throughout Europe and never succeeded in his task. Most of his attempts centred on Scottish support (the Scottish Parliament announced him King of Great Britain, France and Ireland in 1649 after his fathers death) and whilst he invaded England on several occasions but never made it very far. Most famously, in 1651, he evaded English capture for 6 weeks before landing in Normandy - there were many narrow escapes which Charles enjoyed regaling his court with.
In 1658 Oliver Cromwell died and passed his title to his son Richard - who was ill equipped to rule and resigned the following year. After civil and military unrest and a change of parliament Charles was invited back to restore the Monarchy. He landed back in England and arrived in London on his 30th Birthday, May 29th 1660 and was crowned Charles II.
It had already been agreed that all but a select few would be forgiven for their parts in the Civil War and no retribution would be sought. This did not extended to Oliver Cromwell though and his head was posthumously severed from his body.
The rest of Charles’ life was not a quiet one with a Plague in 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666. He also had many quarrels with parliament and dissolved it on several occasions. He never sired a heir (but had around 12 illegitimate children!).
Guide Price £39,250
Country: England
Monarch: Charles II (1660-1685)
Denomination/metal: Gold 20 Shilling / Broad
Type: Gold
Condition: AEF - Graded by NGS as AU55 but this seems harsh as despite the quality it is actually a hammered coin.
Mint mark: Crown
Obv. Laureate (no berries) draped bust left, CAROLVS II D.G. MAG. BRIT. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX'. (no mark of value behind bust)
Rev. Crowned Royal Arms dividing 'CR', 'FLORENT. CONCORDIA. REGNA'.
Ref. Schneider cl II 03/R4; Sch.371; N.2753; S.3301
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