Unidentified 2 - Found Among Lot Of Old British Copper (Id: 1636 Ad Charles I Rose Farthing)

This very much follows the style of 17th century English farthing tokens, but I cannot say for sure. Can you make out any of the text surrounding the central designs?

I think what you might have is a Charles I rose farthing of 1636, possibly type 2.

I used the following reference work

The Galata Guide to the Farthing Tokens of James I and Charles I
Tim Everson
Galata 2007

In your first picture there appears to be a discoloured wedge of metal, like a cake slice, from just before 12 oclock to about 2 oclock. This matches pictures of brass wedges in these farthings as an anti forgery measure.

If this is type 2 you will have:

Obverse:
small central double arched crown, crossed sceptres through the crown, the heads and bottom tips of the sceptres just reaching the inner circle of the surrounding text.
Text reads CAROLVS DG MAG BRIT, with slightly varying punctuation according to sub type. C in CAROLVS starting just to right of 12 oclock. Vertical line of D in DG being in line with bottom right tip of sceptre. Right leg of M in MAG roughly in line with bottom left tip of sceptre. I in BRIT lined with top left point of sceptre.

Reverse:
Small central crowned double rose with crown reaching edge of the coin. Text is FRAN ET HIB REX, starting just to right of crown.

There are sub variants with or without privy marks etc.

Hopefully this is not just wishful thinking on my part. Does what I have described match what you have?

Thank you. I am not 100% sure which type it is. It is a very small piece of metal, and given its condition, it is hard to say.

Everson mentions an interesting link to the US. In 1636 the colony of Virginia made a request for farthing tokens to be supplied. Wilson Peck implies they were of this type. Everson says they were supposed to be a different design, but it appears this was never done. As the royal farthing tokens ( ie these ) were unpopular, people used musket balls as farthings.

It would be interesting to know the details of the finding of this coin. It may throw some light on the above.