Charles I Half Crown Opinions

I don't have any experience on the coin itself...but the seller has 100% feedback and over 5,000 of them so that's a good sign. Also they have some really high priced items in their ebay store so they definitely seem legit. Maybe send them an email through ebay and ask them a few questions...

I think that the price in the condition pictured is a bit uppish.

Oh and you said Civil War coinage? In which case you need to remember that strictly speaking that just covers the (P), (R) Eye, Sun and Sceptre mint marks which were struck after the King fled London and while Parliament controlled the Tower Mint.

The quality control for coinage of this period is really quite poor, so getting a well struck example on a round flan is a challenge. However on the good side, shillings and half crowns were struck in decent quantities (though Sceptre mark coins are scarcer) and many were hidden away in hoards so finding unworn examples isn't impossible.

It's an interesting period (numismatically and historically) and it take a little while to develop an eye for what is a better than average example and what isn't!

If you are really keen on Charles I (or just Civil War) coinage I can recommend a couple of books? And Good luck with your searches!

.

Edward Besley's slim book on Coins and Medals of the English Civil War is quite a nice read. Out of print but should be possible to pick up a copy for under $20.

For a broader coverage of the coins of Charles I, John Brooker's collection (over 1300 coins) was fortunately photographed (black and white) and catalogued before sale.

While it doesn't go into much historical detail I think it's still a wonderful reference as it has many examples not only of the regal coins issued prior to the CW but also those struck while Parliament controlled the Tower (of London) Mint at 'provincial' Royalist mints such as Oxford, York or Aberystwyth.

And if that's not enough, there are the fascinating (and scarce and expensive!) War period 'siege' pieces from places like Newark, where they were obliged to cut up silver plates and cups and stamp the fragments for use as coins. Plus a decent bibliography and list of collections from which Brooker obtained his coins ... All good for further research.

That's bit more pricey but I still regularly refer to the copy that I've had for over ten years. Around £20 (US$30) in the UK so this copy from Charles Davis seems quite reasonable: http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/B...arles+I

(Perhaps I should warn you that I have found it's quite possible to spend $00s on literature alone once you get into a specialist area!)