$325,000.00 USD
Charles I gold Triple Unite 1643 MS61 PCGS, Oxford mint, Plume mm, KM256.2, S-2727, N-2384 (VR), 27.43gm. Variety with continuous declaration. An outstanding specimen of this extreme rarity in uncirculated condition, the largest gold issue of England and one of the most refined of the Civil War series. The strike is exacting and perfectly centered on a round flan of very good metal, despite some minor weakness in the reverse legends and date, the result of an aged and reworked die.
The portrait of Charles is superb, intricately engraved, and exhibiting very little weakness of detail while the lustrous surfaces are bathed in a light olive-russet tone, deepening into protected areas in and around the devices to provide for a very appealing contrast. There are few post-strike imperfections of note besides a small handful of minuscule and ancient scratches. The small irregularity in the left obverse field along the king's sword blade appears, in fact, to be light ghosting from one of the reverse plumes, rather than an abrasion as it may appear upon initial inspection. In the aggregate, this is a truly exceptional example of one of the most iconic issues of Early-Modern Europe, well-deserving of a place in the finest of British cabinet collections.
An interesting glimpse into the volatility of the Civil War period is illustrated by the dual reverse legends of this piece: "EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI," which translates to "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered" and "RELIGIO PROTESTANTIUM LEGES ANGLIAE LIBERTAS PARLIAMENTI," translated "The religion of the Protestants, the laws of England, and the liberty of Parliament." This last is seemingly ironic as Charles was at war with a Parliament attempting to exercise liberty against what in their view was a tyrannical and absolute monarchy.
A similar MS61 NGC specimen was sold twice in two seperate Heritage Auction sales. The first one selling in Jan 2018 for $204,000, later in Aug 2021 for $264,000. Exceedingly Rare
