Lot 319
Great Britain. Gold Unite, ND (c. 1660-1661). S-3301; N-2753; Schneider-371 (same dies); Fr-275 (141). 9.00 grams. Charles II, 1660-1685. Hammered Coinage. First Issue, Class II. Narrow laureate, cuirassed and draped bust of Charles facing left; no berries in wreath, no mark of value. Reverse: Crowned oval garnished shield; around, legend: FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA. Crown mintmark. Fine, sharply struck portrait with a stunning visage, lustrous and on a full, round flan. With attractive old, delicate red toning. Very rare in this grade and for this type. NGC graded AU-55.
With Charles now on the throne, the monarchy was resurrected from its demise on the one hand, while soon another ancient and venerable tradition would see its extinction. In England, early in 1663, after a history stretching over seventeen hundred years, "hammered" coinage would be moribund. So too this denomination, the gold Unite, valued at 20 Shillings. However, the Unite would reappear as the Guinea, a smaller, thicker coin of somewhat reduced weight (about 8.3 grams), and likewise valued at 20 Shillings (but later this classic was re-valued at 21 shillings, sometimes known as a gentleman's pound). In fact all the new coinage was struck at slightly reduced weights. Offsetting this deficiency, though, were the safeguards against clipping that were incorporated into the new issues -- lettered edges on the larger coins, and grained or reeded edging on the on the mid-sized silver pieces.
Also new in Charles's reign would be fact that the large-sized silver crown, never an abundant coin previously, would actually be for once more plentiful than smaller silver pieces. The reason for this abundance of silver was because of a payment received from Louis XIV of France for the purchase of the costal port of Dunkirk. The ownership of the town, near the border of the then Spanish Netherlands, had been contested by France and Spain throughout the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Dunkirk finally passed into French hands in 1658, as a result of French victories against Spain's meddling in France's politico-civil war, known as the Fronde. Participating as allies of France against Spain, the English were given Dunkirk for their assistance. Afterwards, Charles II sold it back to Louis to ease various money difficulties he faced upon re-establishing the monarchy. This plus other subsidies received from Louis because of other secret treaties concluded between Charles and him further swelled the coffers of the London mint, giving England one of the largest silver surpluses it had seen in decades.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 15,000.
Ex. Slaney Collection, Spink 5-15-03, lot 17.
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| Realized $26,450 |
