Lot 2499
Great Britain. Halfcrown, ND. S.2853. Charles I, First milled issue, by Nicholas Briot. First issue, with flower and "BB" initial marks, the king equestrian facing to the left. Nicholas Briot produced two issues, this the first in 1631-32, and another with anchor and single"B" initial mark a few years later, in 1638-39. Sutherland comments tha King Charles, who had a strong personal interest in art, found himself repulsed by the coinage portraits produced for his father by the mint's chief engrave, Edward Greene, and in consequence summoned Abraham Vanderdort of Holland to attempt a better engraving of himself. Vanderdort was skilled in wax-modeling, and was also advisor to the Crown on objets d'art. He quickly produced some portraits of "slender elegance and dignity," but Charles wanted even more, for "Vanderdort's designs were still at the mercy of the technical shortcomings of the mint engravers." Charles found what he needed in the person of Nicholas Briot, engraver-general at the Paris mint who had also developed a new machinery for producing coins. He came to England in 1625 and fashioned a series of portraits for the king ranging from medals to many denominations of coins made by hammer. He also engraved the new Great Seal of England. In 1629 the king granted him authority to set up his machinery, and the result was the splendid coinage represented by the exquisite coin in this lot (as well as the magnificent Tower gold Unites of the same period). He fell into one of the most embroiled moments in English history, the Civil War of the 1640s, clandestinely worked for the king on the run, and "controlled the artistic scene" of the era. Despite the fact that he engraved at the same time as another master, Thomas Rawlins, he remains at the top of the list of most-skilled engravers who produced coins in England through many centuries. Add to this list Thomas Simon, who worked a few years later on, and it must be clear that the 1640s and 1650s in England were a time of outstanding numismatic artistry. This coin is virtually as made and graced by a lovely, ages-set medium gray and blue toning, with hints of golden iridescence. It enjoys "perfect" original eye-appeal. A few tiny spots are not fully struck, but overall the details are extraordinarily well impressed by the roller-dies. The Cheshire collector notes that this coin is the finest he ever saw, which is why he bought it from the Terner sale. Dr Terner owned the coin for years, and previously it had been purchased from Richard Lobel about 1980. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.
Ex Dr. Terner Collection; Ex Cheshire Collection.
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| Realized $7,475 |
