Lot 3676
Great Britain. Gold Double Crown, ND. S.2702; Fr-247. Charles I, 1625-1649. Tower Mint under the King. Group D. Fourth bust. Mint mark harp. Bust type 6. Portrait of King with jewelled crown and collar. Reverse:Oval shield with C R at sides. Scarce in high grade. A superb coin which glistens with original luster and has great eye appeal. Very detailed and generally sharply struck, with only a small area of weakness of striking (as is often the case) below the king's collar and corresponding on the reverse design. The mint mark harp signifies that the coin was produced in the period 1632-1633. Choice Extremely Fine.
** These coins were struck in interesting times. In the early years of his reign, Charles I was faced with the alternative of obtaining parliamentary funding and having his policies questioned by argumentative Parliaments who linked the issue of supply to remedying their own grievances, or conduction a war without subsidy from Parliament. Charles dismissed his 4th Parliament in 1629 and decided he could survive without its advices or the taxes that it alone could grant legally.
Although opponents later called the following years the 'Eleven Years Tyranny' the King was technically within his royal prerogative in attempting to rule without Parliament. Charles' advisers were generally despised, but they were quite efficient. For much of the 1630's Charles gained the income he needed from forced loans, wardships, impositions, exploitation of forest laws and ship money - a form of tax or fine extended in 1635 from the ports to the whole of the nation. The measures alienated many of the King's natural supporters.
A riot in Edinburgh in 1637, because of religious impositions, led to rebellion in Scotland, and faced with the mammoth task of subduing the Scots, the King recalled Parliament. The 'Short Parliament' of 1640 questioned Charles' request for funds to fight the Scots and after a few weeks was dissolved. In November 1640 the King was forced to call another Parliament (The 'Long Parliament') and inevitable conflict with this Parliament led to the English Civil War.
Estimated Value $1,750 - 2,000.
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