The COINEX Sale: Important British, Italian and World Coins

Charles I (1625-1649), Tower mint, Pattern Unite, attributed to A. Vanderdort, in silver, mm. lis, bare-headed bust left, wearing collar over armour and the ribbon of the lesser George, no mark of value, rev. crowned scroll-garnished oval shield between crowned c r, 4.78g/12h (SCBI Brooker 1239-40, same dies; Allen vi; N 2655). Cast and chased, good very fine with attractive dark grey tone, rare (£800-1,000)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Silver Coins of Charles I from a Private Collection.

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The use of mm. lis is somewhat enigmatic since it was otherwise used only for the coinage of 1625 when the ruff was still in fashion. Of the other patterns in the small series in high relief attributed to Vanderdort, this most resembles the five unites bearing mm. rose (the Juxon Medal). In the cataloguer’s opinion, this unite was probably produced c. 1632-3 and the lis mark possibly contemplated for re-use with the coinage of group D but vetoed (the thistle, lis, rose and trefoil marks had all been used twice during the previous reign). The attribution to Vanderdort rests with the documentary evidence referring to patterns for five, three and one pound pieces in high relief. An early stipulation of Nicholas Briot’s appointment was that he was not permitted to engrave the royal arms, but this restriction was clearly lifted as evidenced by his pattern unites of 1630 which were struck in low relief (N 2659-62)