The Michael Gietzelt Collection of British and Irish Coins (1625-1660)

Charles I (1625-1649), Chester mint, Halfcrown, York style, no mm., three vertical pellets before legends, triangle of pellets at end of rev. legend, horseman left, no marks, crown above oval shield with lion-skin garniture, 14.82g/12h (Bull 579 (75-36), this coin; Lyall b/ii; SCBI Brooker 1114; N 2628; S 3131). On an irregular flan, good very fine or better and probably much as struck, rare
£3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Michael Gietzelt Collection of British and Irish Coins (1625-1660).

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Provenance: E.C. Carter Collection; E. Burstal Collection, Glendining Auction, 15-16 May 1968, lot 385; with G.E. Hearn; SNC March 1971 (3023); B.J. Dawson Collection, DNW Auction 156, 21 March 2019, lot 115.

From September 1644 until its surrender to the Parliamentarians, Chester was for the most part under siege. Coinage was only produced for a short period during 1645. On 31 January of that year (NS), the Corporation ordered the conversion of £100-worth of plate into coin 'for the necessary use and defence of this citty'. Chester surrendered to its Parliamentary besiegers under Sir William Brereton on 3 February 1646 (NS). For a detailed survey and a possible chronology of the Chester issues see Pearce (SNC January 2014, pp.140-2)