Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
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Unique ID: WMID-FA6147
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A modern reproduction of a silver half crown of Charles I (1625-1649), dated 1646. OBS NEWARK reverse type with lettering and date in three lines. Struck at Newark. North 2638. This is a Siege piece. Siege pieces were usually struck from pieces of plate of irregular shape, and sometimes bear a part of the original design or hallmark. Newark was besieged several times during the English Civil War (AD 1642 to AD 1651), and it surrendered on 6th May 1646. Siege pieces attributed to Newark are of a diamond shape.
Original siege pieces from Newark adhered closely to the official weights of the Tower Mint issues, about 14.89g for the halfcrown, and this one is severely underweight at 6.5g. In addition, the design does not equate to the original issues and there is a 'crack' to the left of the date which does not run through the coin. It is probably cast.
Length: 38.4 mm
Width: 30.6 mm
Thickness: 1.9 mm
Weight: 6.5 g
Notes:
Our thanks are extended to Edward Besly for his advice in the identification of this coin.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 1900
Quantity: 1
Length: 38.4 mm
Width: 30.6 mm
Thickness: 1.9 mm
Weight: 6.5 g
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Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Denomination: Half crown
Ruler/issuer: Charles I of England
Mint or issue place: Newark besieged
Category: English coin early Modern 1489 - 1660
Type: Civil War: Siege pieces (N 2633-2652)
Obverse description: Large crown between C R, below XXX
Obverse inscription: C R XXX
Reverse description: OBS NEWARK 1646
Reverse inscription: OBS NEWARK 1646
Initial mark: -
Die axis measurement: 12 o'clock
Degree of wear: Worn: fine
No coin references available.
4 Figure: SJ9153
Four figure Latitude: 53.07415365
Four figure longitude: -2.1357856
1:25K map: SJ9153
1:10K map: SJ95SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.