Threepence piece of Charles I

Detectorists dig up lots of hammered silver coins of Charles I but most are low denomination issues from the mint situated in the Tower of London. Featured here is a threepence piece, which was sent in by Edward Burns. This is a low denomination coin but rather than being a common Tower issue it was struck at the Royalist mint situated in Oxford, which started to make coins shortly after the start of the first Civil War.

On the obverse is a bust of Charles I facing left with III (for three pence) behind. Within the inner circle on the reverse is the ‘declaration’ in three lines with three fleur de lis above and 1644 below. In the Standard Catalogue threepences of this type are listed as number 2994.

The obverse would grade only Fair, the reverse about Fine and it has been pierced twice.

Treasure

For some time pierced coins have been classed as Treasure. This is because they have been classed as jewellery rather than simply as a coin. On early coins, where a hole is at the top of the obverse or the imagery on the reverse, they were probably used as jewellery. However, I believe that many later small hammered silver coins, especially those of the 16th and 17tth century, were pierced so that they could be stored for safekeeping on a length of string. Therefore, they should not count as Treasure. However, as things stand, they should be reported.

Valuation

The condition of this coin certainly isn’t good but it is quite rare and provincial mint coins of Charles I are sought after by collectors. Despite being worn and pierced, to a collector this find should still be worth around £50.

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