Great Britain: Charles II pattern copper Farthing 1665,...

Description

Charles II pattern copper Farthing 1665, Peck-412, short hair, plain edge. Dies engraved by John Roettier, of the talented Dutch family so favored by the son of Charles I. These pieces, struck in sizable quantities albeit technically patterns, are the first in the English copper series to depict the now-famous Seated Britannia effigy on the reverse side. Wilson Peck comments that the image was inspired by the allegorical figure symbolizing the Province of Britain to the Romans, as it had appeared on bronze sestertii of the emperor Antoninus Pius (and on other Roman issues with which the Dutch engraver was doubtless familiar). As well, Peck believed that the Duchess of Richmond (now a suburb of London), Frances Stewart, was the model for Britannia's face upon this coin; he states that Roettier had probably seen the then-new portrait of her, done in 1664. The farthing features a superb likeness of King Charles II when young. The obverse legend is essentially a cry for joy at the return of the king, who had been hiding in France all during the Civil War. The reverse legend translates to mean "I claim the four seas" and is reputed to allude to the king's interest in strengthening the Royal Navy. In this sense, this particular coinage represents the beginning of the British Empire, Britain's wish to rise to a level of prominence whereby it could rule the seas. The question now arises: why would a pattern be struck in large numbers and then circulate broadly? By 1670 there had been proclamations in the House of Lords, of Parliament, about the need for more small change; thus the dies for these patterns, in their various versions, seem to have been brought out and used for some years to make commercial coins. Some of the dies were worn, and many of these farthings appear lacking detail. Most, however, circulated for decades. Finding an unworn piece struck from fresh dies, such as the present example, is thus quite extraordinary. Uncirculated with chocolate-brown, semi-prooflike surfaces, only a few tiny abrasions in the lovely fields, and boldly struck. The very image of the monarchial claims the coin was meant to represent!

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