A Collection of British Gold Coins, 1662-1813, the Property of a Cambridge Scholar

Charles II (1660-1685), Broad, 1662, by T. Simon, in gold, laureate draped bust left, s below, rev. crowned shield, 8.99g/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1995, G3/3; SCBI Schneider 422; N 2780; S 3337A). Nearly extremely fine, rare £4,000-5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of British Gold Coins, 1662-1813, the Property of a Cambridge Scholar.

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Provenance: Noble Numismatics Pty Auction 82 (Melbourne), 25-7 July 2006, lot 2249.

Marvin Lessen demonstrates that these coins, commonly called patterns because most of them were signed s by the artist, were in reality struck for currency purposes and were among the very first pieces coined by Thomas Simon by the screw press in March and April 1662. After the production of ‘a few thousand coins’ without, it would appear, the assistance of Peter Blondeau, the run was halted because of mechanical failures