Siege of Newark~6 Pence 1646

[Zantetsuken]

Emergency coins issued during the 'English Civil War' (1642-1651) for Newark-on-Trent. During the final siege of Newark, which began in 1645, regiments loyal to King Charles I gathered silver plates  from wealthy families and the Castle, in order to make coins in numerous denominations dated 1645 and 1646. The following is a 6 Pence dated 1646, the final year of the siege.


NEWARK (SIEGE)~6 Pence 1646

[Figleaf]

This is an exiting series, but so hard to collect. Always happy to see one.

Are you changing your collecting interest, or is there some relation with medieval Balkan coins?

Peter

[capnbirdseye]

Wonderful coin! I suppose they made them roughly square as it easier to chop the metal from plate in straight lines

[malj1]

One of the best I have seen.

As you say easiest to cut square but they also would have had to consider the value of the silver and cut to an approximate size to equal this.

I once visited Newark [after the seige]

[Zantetsuken]

This is an exiting series, but so hard to collect. Always happy to see one.

Are you changing your collecting interest, or is there some relation with medieval Balkan coins?

Peter

Thanks Pete. No, I still mainly collect Russia and eastern Europe. However, I like to mix things up now and again. This was interesting coin from a very important point in England's history. I love the unique shape of these coins and the story behind them.

@ capnbirdseye~ That's what the seller told me. They cut them in rhombic shape because it was easier than trimming them in circular form. It makes sense, especially the crude circumstances under which these were minted.

This one had been pierced at one point, then later repaired. It looks to have been professionally done since the details were recreated in the section where the hole was punched with nice precision. Still, it was the price I payed for this beauty.

[capnbirdseye]

This one had been pierced at one point, then later repaired. It looks to have been professionally done since the details were recreated in the section where the hole was punched with nice precision. Still, it was the price I payed for this beauty.

A very good repair, I think I see a square plug below the 4 of the date? if pierced to hang on a cord or chain then it would have hung upside

[FosseWay]

Pure guesswork, but I note the piercing obliterates the mark of value on the other side. Could it have been intentional to "demonetise" the piece after the siege, or after the ultimate victory of Parliament?

As capnbirdseye notes, if you thread a string through the hole the coin would hang upside down, and to obliterate a design element like that on a coin with relatively little design to start with seems odd if you're wanting to display it as an aesthetic object.