Great Britain: Charles I "Oxford" Pound 1642 VF Details (Tooled) NGC,...

Description

Charles I "Oxford" Pound 1642 VF Details (Tooled) NGC, Oxford mint, Plume mm, S-2940, N-2398. 118.32gm. An iconic and substantial British type; the largest English silver issue ever produced and one fervently pursued by collectors regardless of preservation. A decidedly fine representative, and one we've only handled four times previously, bestowed an appreciable, uniform dove-gray patina and gently handled devices that face up well when viewed in hand. While precluded from a straight grade by tooling most notable to the reverse central legend, this ultimately does little to distract from the advanced eye appeal via strong centering, strike, and a full planchet.

Prior to the English Civil War, Charles's coinage was almost uniformly poorly struck, irregular-flanned, and as crude as the contemporary Spanish 'pieces of eight'. However, as hostilities began to arise and numerous cities and towns began to declare their loyalty for either Royalists or Parliament, both sides proceeded to mint their own coins so as not to lose grasp of circulating currency and thus risk a breakdown of order. Indeed, coinage underpinned civilization to such an extent that even besieged castles and strongholds resorted to creating their own coins from salvaged plate silver. Parliament's coins were largely similar to the pre-existing regal issue, crudely struck and irregular. Charles, meanwhile, decided that coins were a perfect means of spreading his message and demonstrating his value - and thus he went on to produce exceptionally fine, large-sized pieces of gold and silver bearing his 'Wellington Declaration', stating to his people and Parliament that despite all appearances he upheld "the Protestant religion, the laws of England and the Liberty of Parliament".

Metal: Silver
Diameter: 50mm

More information about Great Britain Coins. See also: Great Britain World Coin Nationality.

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