Description
Charles II (1660-85), Unite of twenty shillings, second hammered coinage, issued between April – October 1662, Tower mint, mintmark crown obverse only, toothed outer borders and pellet stops both sides, laureate and draped bust left, ornamental double lined breastplate with small cupid like profile above half crescent sunburst, mark of value XX behind, legend surrounds followed by ,mintmark, CAROLVS II DG MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX. Rev, double arch crowned oval garnished shield, seven strings to Irish harp, reads FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, C-R either side, 9.09g (S.3304; N.2754; Schneider [BNJ 1967], Pl. XII, R16 this coin; Schneider dies O9/R16 = EGC 149 [R2]; Wayte Raymond [1962], 78 = Schneider II, 408-412 same obverse die). A little cabinet friction normal for the type, fields reflective and lustrous with original mint bloom around the legends. Portrait cleanly struck showing depth in the King’s hair, few sporadic annealing flaws from the initial strike. Rev, small portion of the flan weakly struck, presenting in a little distortion in the Scottish lion quartered shield, reflected to a lesser extent in the obverse in the nape of King’s neck. Good extremely fine, particularly impressive in a notoriously weakly struck series, very rare so well preserved.
Ex. Seaby, July 1966, G1482 – small portion of flan weakly struck, otherwise sharp, good EF – £180.0.0.
