Lot 3803
Great Britain. Shilling, 1645. S.3143. Charles I, 1625-1649. Newark Siege Piece in silver. Obverse, jewelled crown with C R (Charles Rex) to the sides and mark of value (XII) in pence below. Reverse, OBS: NEWARK 1645. Crisply struck with a little excess metal, and some underlying markings from the original plate visible, especially on the reverse. Attractively toned. This coin has seen practically no circulation and is an excellent example of this historic coinage. NGC graded AU-55.
Although there were various sieges during the English Civil War, the siege of Newark was particularly significant, and the loss of this important 'Royalist' city to the forces of Parliament hastened the defeat of King Charles I.
In June 1645 the increasingly desperate King's army was defeated by Parliament's 'New Model Army' at the Battle of Naseby. In October 1645, while he was in Newark, the king heard the news that Prince Rupert, his nephew, had had surrendered the town of Bristol to the forces of Parliament. Rupert then travelled through enemy territory, with 100 or so men, to meet the King in Newark, but, embarrassed by the situation, Prince Rupert resigned and never fought in the Civil War again.
In November 1645 the Parliamentary armies, led by Colonel-General Poyntz, Colonel Rossiter, and Colonel Gravies, plus the Scots army led by General Alexander began their siege of the city of Newark. King Charles fled to Oxford, which then became the royal 'capital.'
Lord John Belasyse, the Governor of Newark took measures to fortify the town, and to overcome the shortage of money he produced 'siege money' made from silver plate donated by wealthy royalists and from the Newark Castle collection. Four denominations were made, in relatively small numbers - halfcrowns, shillings, ninepences and sixpences.
Bellasyse organized raids to attack the enemy forces, but inevitably the Parliamentarians strengthened their defenses and totally encircled the town. By late March 1646 16,000 troops were besieging Newark, but despite the increasing incidence of disease (many defenders died of the plague) and foul conditions within the town, there was no surrender. King Charles arrived in Newark at the end of April 1646, hopeful of help from the King and Queen of France. It never came.
The King, eventually surrendered to the Scots in early May 1646, at Southwell near to Newark. The local council in Newark, however, decided it did not want to surrender, and continued to resist. Only when the Scots forced the king to order the garrison to capitulate was the siege of Newark ended. On May 8th 1646 a tearful Lord Bellasyse left Newark and signed the terms of surrender. The English Civil War was virtually ended.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.
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