"My tail's for sale. Half-a-crown will lay me down!" The line is from Kathleen Winsor's infamous 1944 historical novel "Forever Amber", which was set in England during the Restoration period of King Charles II, approximately 1660-1670. The novel was a best seller, and was denounced as obscene in many places. The book had episodes set during a black plague epidemic and the London fire. I had read the book many years ago and again a few months ago. The main character, young and beautiful Amber St. Clare, decides to improve her lot in society by attaching herself to successively wealther men. She finally becomes a mistress of Charles II. On her way up, Amber has a brief career as a stage actress, and during one performance, she wonders why people are laughing at her when she turns around. She discovers that someone has pinned a sign to the back of her dress which reads "My tail's for sale. Half-a-crown will lay me down!". Probably a strange reason for wanting a coin but I just had to have one: Great Britain Charles II Half Crown 1663 Diameter 33mm Weight 14.32gm
Sounds like a great plot to a movie. My interest in English / British coins begins with this "Merry Monarch." Nice coin. guy
