English Civil War Provincial Mint Issues

[Deeman]

Exeter penny

Issued 1644. The designs and inscriptions follow the rose design of the half-groat but with value 'I'.




1644 dated Exeter penny, Exeter rose initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G M B F E H R.
Reverse inscription is THRO IVSTI FIRMAT, date to left of initial mark.

[Deeman]

Worcester & Salopia

Both locations at unattested. The Worcester issues were once attributed to Weymouth with Salopia issues previously being assigned to Salisbury followed by a suggestion of Sandsfoot Castle near Weymouth.

Worcester attributions are the unite (20/-) and halfcrown. Initial marks on the halfcrowns are usually a castle, helmet or leopard's head and the reverse inscriptions may have lis, rosettes, lions or stars as stops.

Salopia attributions are the unite and halfcrown. The initial mark on the halfcrowns is usually a small lis.

Other denominations attributed to Worcester or Salopia are shilling, sixpence, groat, threepence and half-groat. Initial marks on these coins are quite varied.

All coins are undated with the exception of a declaration type halfcrown attributed to Worcester which is dated 1644. No image of the Salopia unite is available, but the Chester example (see post 73) is representative with the initial mark being a lis only on the obverse. It is undated and probably struck in 1644.

[Deeman]

Worcester unite

The unite had a value of 20/- at 0.917 fine 'crown' gold (22ct). The obverse depicts the crowned bust of the king left in lace collar and armour, with the value 'XX' behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. The reverse has a crowned garnished oval shield of the Royal Arms with precedence given to England, with lion's paws at the sides. The circumscription, starting and finishing at the crown, is FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, translating to 'Through concord, kingdoms flourish.'




Picture from book plate. Undated (c. 1644) Worcester unite, no initial mark.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FR ET HI REX.
Reverse inscription is FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, double annulet stops.

[Deeman]

Salopia halfcrown

Issued circa1644. The obverse depicts the king on horseback to left, holding sword in his right hand, flowing sash behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. The reverse is a crowned garnished oval or round shield of the Royal Arms with precedence given to England. There are two circumscriptions, one is CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO, translating to 'I reign under the auspices of Christ' and the other is FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, translating to 'Through concord, kingdoms flourish.'




Undated Salopia halfcrown, small lis initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FRAN ET HI RX, 'SA' replaced by large pellet.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNA, REGNO misspelt, lis stops.




Undated Salopia halfcrown, small lis initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FRAN ET HI RX, tall horse.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, lis stops first coin, round shield and annulet stops second coin.




Undated Salopia halfcrown, small lis initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FRAN ET HI RX, tall horse.
Reverse inscription is FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, round shield.




Undated Salopia halfcrown, small lis initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FR ET HIB REX, finer work, reduced mane before horse, double pellets flanking lis.
Reverse inscription CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO.




Undated Salopia halfcrown, small lis initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FR ET HI REX, no mane before horse, grass line.
Reverse inscription CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, round shield.

[Deeman]

Worcester halfcrown

Issued 1644/5. The obverse depicts the king on horseback to left, holding sword in his right hand, sash behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. There are two reverse designs. One has an abbreviation of the king's declaration to protect 'the religion of the Protestants, the laws of England, the liberty of Parliament' (RELIG PROT / LE AN LI PA) in two lines between ruled lines, with three plumes above, date below, all within the circumscription EXURGAT DEUS ET DISSIPENTUR INIMICI which translates to 'Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered' (Psalms 68.1). This is dated 1644 and the reverse is a modified 1643 Bristol die. The other is a crowned garnished shield of the Royal Arms, with precedence given to England, either oval or square-topped, and with some oval shield issues having uncrowned letters 'CR' flanking shield. There are two associated circumscriptions, one is CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO, translating to 'I reign under the auspices of Christ' and the other is FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, translating to 'Through concord, kingdoms flourish.'




1644 dated Worcester halfcrown, 2 lions initial mark on obverse, 4-pellets reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX, 'W' below horse.
Reverse inscription is EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI.




Undated Worcester halfcrown, 2 lions initial mark on obverse, helmet reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX, 'W' below horse.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, square-topped shield, double annulet stops.




Undated Worcester halfcrown, castle initial mark on obverse, helmet reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX, 'W' below horse, grassy ground.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, square-topped shield, double annulet stops.




Undated Worcester halfcrown, no initial mark.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FRAN ET HI REX, tall king.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield, rosette stops.




Undated Worcester halfcrown, no initial mark.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRI FRA ET IIIB REX, crossbar missing from 'H', Briot horse, sword pointing forward, grassy line.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield, rosette stops.




Undated Worcester halfcrown, leopard's head initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRI FRA ET HIB REX, Briot horse, sword pointing forward, grassy line.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield, 'CR' flanking shield, rosette stops.




Undated Worcester halfcrown, leopard's head initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX, dumpy portly king.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield, star stops.




Undated Worcester halfcrown, leopard's head initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX, thin king and horse.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield, star stops.

[Deeman]

Worcester or Salopia shilling

Issued 1643/4. The obverse depicts the crowned bust of the king left in lace collar and armour, with value 'XII' behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. The reverse is a shield of the Royal Arms with precedence given to England, either a garnished oval or round design, or square-topped design with the letters 'CR' above and with or without lion's paws at the sides. The circumscription is CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO, translating to 'I reign under the auspices of Christ.'




Undated Worcester or Salopia shilling, helmet and lion initial marks on reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FR ET HI REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, square-topped shield 'CR' above, rosette stops.




Undated Worcester or Salopia shilling, initial marks? (Bird or lis obverse, boar's head or helmet reverse.)
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FR ET HI REX, crude bust.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, square-topped shield with lion's paws at side, 'CR' above.




Undated Worcester or Salopia shilling, lis initial mark both sides (reverse blundered).
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FR ET HI REX, crude bust.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield.




Undated Worcester or Salopia shilling, lis initial mark on obverse, 3 lis reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FR ET H RX, crude bust.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, round shield.




Undated Worcester or Salopia shilling, pear between 4-pellets initial mark on reverse. Halfcrown reverse die.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FR ET HI REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, draped oval shield, rosette stops.

[Deeman]

Worcester or Salopia sixpence

Issued 1643/4. The obverse depicts the crowned bust of the king left in lace collar and armour, with value 'VI' behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. The reverse is a square-topped shield of the Royal Arms with precedence given to England, with lion's paws at the sides and above. The circumscription is CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO, translating to 'I reign under the auspices of Christ.'




Picture from book plate. Undated Worcester or Salopia sixpence, castle initial mark on obverse, boar's head reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BR FR ET HI RX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, square-topped shield with lion's paws at sides and above.

[Deeman]

Worcester or Salopia groat

Issued 1643/4. The obverse depicts the crowned bust of the king left in lace collar and armour, with value 'IIII' behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. The reverse is a garnished oval shield of the Royal Arms with precedence given to England. The circumscription is CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO, translating to 'I reign under the auspices of Christ.'




Undated Worcester or Salopia groat, lis initial mark on obverse, helmet reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G M B F ET H REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield.

[Deeman]

Worcester or Salopia threepence

The designs and inscriptions follow those of the groat but with value 'III'.




Undated Worcester or Salopia threepence, lis initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G M B F ET H REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield.

[Deeman]

Worcester or Salopia half-groat

The designs and inscriptions follow those of the groat but with value 'II'.




Undated Worcester or Salopia half-groat, lis initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G M B F ET H REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, oval shield.

[Deeman]

Welsh Marches

Unattested location. A declaration type halfcrown dated 1644 has a Welsh Marches attribution. The term Welsh Marches refers to the English counties that are along the border to Wales. Possibly struck in Hereford in Oct 1644.

The obverse depicts the king on horseback holding sword in his right hand, sash behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. The reverse has an abbreviation of the king's declaration to protect 'the religion of the Protestants, the laws of England, the liberty of Parliament' (RELIG PROT / LE AN LI PA) in two lines between ruled lines and divided by dotted line, with three plumes above, date below, all within the circumscription EXURGAT DEUS ET DISSIPENTUR INIMICI which translates to 'Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered' (Psalms 68.1).




1644 dated Welsh Marches halfcrown, plume initial mark on both sides.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRI FR ET HI REX, crude horseman.
Reverse inscription is EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI, Bristol style.

[Deeman]

Hawarden (Old) Castle

Unattested location. An undated halfcrown previously attributed to Hartlebury Castle in Worcestershire.

The obverse depicts the king on horseback holding sword in his right hand, sash behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. The reverse is a garnished round shield of the Royal Arms with precedence given to England, letters 'H' and 'C' in lower garniture, within a circumscription of CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO, translating to 'I reign under the auspices of Christ.'




Undated Hawarden (Old) Castle halfcrown, pear initial mark on obverse, three pears reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO.

[Deeman]

Chester Mint

When Charles I escaped from Oxford when the city came under attack, he went to Cheshire in 1644/5. An emergency mint, which was already being organised, was completed at Chester in the late months of 1644/5. It operated for just over a year, for in Feb 1645/6 the Royalists surrendered to the Parliamentarians after enduring a long siege. There are a number of declaration type halfcrowns dated 1644 indicating that plate and bullion was rushed through the mint before the turn of the year in Mar 1645, probably during early enthusiasm. These are the only Chester coins that are dated.

Chester coins consist of the unite (20/-), halfcrown, shilling and threepence. The halfcrowns and threepences and can be distinguished by the initial mark of the gerb (sheaves of grain), three or one on the halfcrowns and one on the threepences. Gerbs form one of the charges upon the coat of arms of the city of Chester. Some halfcrowns have the letters CHST on the obverse. The gold unite has a plume initial mark and the shilling has a triangle of pellets.

There is no image of the threepence. It has a square-topped shield with a prostrate gerb initial mark on the reverse.

[Deeman]

Chester unite

The unite had a value of 20/- at 0.917 fine 'crown' gold (22ct). The obverse depicts the crowned bust of the king left in lace collar and armour, with the value 'XX' behind, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. The reverse has a crowned garnished oval shield of the Royal Arms with precedence given to England, flanked by the crowned letters 'C' and 'R'. The first and fourth quarters have the lions of England arranged quarterly with the French lis (dating from the claim to the French throne made by Edward III in 1340), the lion of Scotland is in the second quarter and the harp of Ireland in the third. The circumscription, starting and finishing at the crown, is FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA, translating to 'Through concord, kingdoms flourish.'




1644 Chester unite, plume initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MA BR FR ET HI REX.
Reverse inscription is FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA.

[Deeman]

Chester halfcrown

Issued 1644/5. The obverse depicts the king on horseback to left, holding sword in his right hand, sash behind, with or without plume in field and CHST below horse, within a circumscription translating to 'Charles, by the Grace of God, Great Britain, France and Ireland, king'. There are two reverse designs. One has an abbreviation of the king's declaration to protect 'the religion of the Protestants, the laws of England, the liberty of Parliament' (RELIG PROT LEG / ANG LIBER PAR) in two lines, each line between ruled lines, with three plumes above, date below, all within the circumscription of EXURGAT DEUS ET DISSIPENTUR INIMICI which translates to 'Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered' (Psalms 68.1). The other is a garnished shield of the Royal Arms, with precedence given to England, either oval with or without crown above, or crowned square-topped flanked by crowned letters 'CR'. The circumscription is CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO, translating to 'I reign under the auspices of Christ.'




1644 dated Chester halfcrown, sword on 3 gerbs initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRI FR ET HIB REX.
Reverse inscription is EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI, pellets in date.




Undated Chester halfcrown, sword on 3 gerbs initial mark on both sides.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRI FR ET HIR REX, plume behind horse, CHST below horse.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, uncrowned oval shield.




Undated Chester halfcrown, prostrate gerb initial mark on both sides.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, crowned oval shield with lion skin garniture.




Undated Chester halfcrown, cinquefoil initial mark on reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, crowned oval shield with lion skin garniture.




Undated Chester halfcrown, cinquefoil initial mark on reverse.
Obverse inscription is CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX.
Reverse inscription is CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO, crowned square-topped shield, crowned letters 'CR' at sides.