PLEASE CAN YOU ASSIST with NEW information - Britain last Hammered Coins were produced APR-OCT1662

BRITISH COINS, Charles II, hammered coinage (1660-1662), second issue, unite, mm. crown, laur. bust l., mark of value behind, rev. crowned oval garnished shield dividing CR
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THOMAS SIMON'S portrait on last hammered coinages of Charles II 1660/62 was one of the greatest artistic accomplishments in English coinage.

354 years ago Britain witnessed the last Hammered Coins to be produced. These were created at the Tower Mint in London the only difference being denominations have value as can be seen above XX behind the king's head.

This was the last coinage before full scale production of milled coinage.

In 1660 when Charles II became King two important events in English numismatics cast their shadow forward, and over the hammered coinage of Charles II wanted to change from the Commonwealth money move forward from the hammered coinage to the minting press.

The last hammered coins of Charles II were for no more than a very short period even though the engraving had outstanding artistic qualities. The king was obviously unhappy to continue to use the existing Commonwealth coinage and dies and used his best endeavors to have new coinage with his name and portrait on them as soon as possible.

When Charles II became King apart from the enigmatic Rawlins no engraver other than Simon was qualified to cut the punches. Charles II was impatient and could not understand why the changeover took time.

“Hammered coins were produced by placing a blank piece of metal (a planchet or flan) of the correct weight between two dies, and then striking the upper die with a hammer to produce the required image on both sides. The planchet was usually cast from a mold. The bottom die (sometimes called the anvil die) was usually counter sunk in a log or other sturdy surface and was called a pile. One of the minters held the die for the other side (called the trussel), in his hand while it was struck either by himself or an assistant”

 

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Hi Tim, thank you for your email with further information reference the Charles II Unite or I should say hammered gold Charles II coinage.

Jeff

Mint Master: 1660/62 Sir Ralph Freeman, Henry Slingsby, appointed in July 1662.

Chief Engraver: Thomas Rawlins, King's Engraver and Medallist. May 31st, 1661 onwards Thomas Simon.

 

If anyone is interested enough, Samuel Pepys was very interested in the new coinage, and also the withdrawal and recoining of the old coinage. In the Diary there is quite a lot of detail on these subjects from a contemporary point of view.

S.P. was a senior enough goverment official to go and have a look round the mint if he wanted to so he did.

He also attempts to calculate just how much coinage was in circulation and roughly what it is made up of. My set of the Diary is not handy at the moment but I am sure anyone interested could find the references from the index.

 

Hi
afantiques

Thanks I realy interested in all the points you bring up. Specially:

The new coinage, and also the withdrawal and recoining of the old coinage

He also attempts to calculate just how much coinage was in circulation and roughly what it is made up of.

WoW if you have time could you look at these points - this would be great .........

Regards
Jeff