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Lot 2283
Great Britain. Triple Unite, 1643 (Oxford) NGC AU50. S.2726; Fr-258. Charles I, 1625-1649. Half-length crowned artistic bust of King left, in armour, with scarf flying from shoulder, holding a sword in one hand and an olive branch in the other, plume behind portrait. Mint mark Oxford plume above. Obverse legend reads: CAROLVS: D:G: MAGN: BRIT: FR: ET: HI: REX. Reverse has declaration in three lines on scroll RELIG: PROT LEG: ANGL: LIBER: PAR, with value (III) and 3 plumes above, date below. The Latin translation underlines the King's promise to preserve the Protestant religion, the laws of the land and the privileges and freedom of Parliament. The coin has an evenly struck portrait and superb reverse detail. Both obverse and reverse surfaces glisten with original luster. Struck on a full flan, and in virtually mint state for this issue.
The Charles I Triple Unite is probably England's most impressive denomination, and one of the nation's most important and historically significant numismatic rarities. It is estimated that there are only around 225 Triple Unites in existence, and this relatively small figure includes several different types and varieties. This piece is remarkable because it is a rarer type than is normally encountered, but has none of the double-striking associated with the variety. This coin does however have the same small irregular raised marks (die 'pimples') in the obverse field in front of the King's face as the J.Pitman/Samuel King, Schneider and Millennia Collection specimens, which demonstrates that very few coins of this type were made. NGC graded AU-50.
*Charles made his headquarters in the city of Oxford late in 1642 at the height of the English Civil War and produced his coinage there. After the king's final break with Parliament, the parliamentary authorities, still using the king's name and effigy, continued to manufacture coins in London. This only ended after the king's execution in early 1649.
Lamenting the fate of Charles I one scholar expressed surprise that 'so good a man should be so bad a king.' Despite the magnificence of much of Charles's coinage the king was not over-endowed with money. For a long time the welfare of England and the raising of money by taxation had depended on some sort of balance being maintained between monarch and Parliament, something that neither James I nor his son Charles ever began to understand.
Charles lectured the first assembly that lack of funds forced him to call in 1625, 'Remember that Parliaments are altogether in my own power for their calling, sitting and dissolution.' He was technically right, but his lack of tact and his arrogance sadly set the tone for the rest of his reign. This led to the ultimate confrontation with Parliament and eventually cost him his throne and his life. Estimated Value $90,000 - 100,000
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