Ancient, British and World Coins, Tokens and Banknotes

Charles I (1625-1649), Pattern Halfcrown, by Nicholas Briot, king seated on horseback l., rev. oval shield, crowned, and lightly garnished, dividing 16 28 (N. 2673; SCBI, Brooker 1258). Worn, and very flat in places but very rare (£50-60)

The status of this interesting piece is unclear. The 17th century numismatist, John Evelyn (A Discourse of Medals antient and modern, London, 1697) considered it to be a medal commemorating the proposed second La Rochelle Expedition. The date – the year of the expedition and some three years before the introduction of Briot’s coinage – would tend to favour such a conclusion. The Latin legends o rex da facilem cvrsm (Grant O King a prosperous course) and atqve avdacibvs annve coeptis (And favour bold undertakings) also, on the face of it, lend support to this view. Nevertheless, this cannot be considered conclusive evidence that the piece is medallic: the legends, while appropriate for a medal of the La Rochelle expedition, are of a sufficiently vague nature to be not entirely out of keeping for a coin. Furthermore, although medals struck in anticipation of military success – rather than after victory has been achieved – are not unknown, it is not a particularly common occurrence. Moreover, unlike some uncertain pieces by Briot or others, the design of the present piece is certainly coin-like and although the weight of the relatively unworn Brooker coin is a little high (15.44 gms), it is not so much so as to rule out the possibility that the piece is indeed a projected design for a coin.