The North Yorkshire Moors Collection of British Coins

IX: Original Naval Rewards (and Electrotypes), Naval Reward, 1650-1, a struck plated medal by T. Simon, mervisti, shields of England and Ireland superimposed on anchor, surrounded by rope, signed ts monogram, rev. view of the Long Parliament, 25 x 21mm, 6.72g (Lessen, BNJ 1981, p.112 and pl. vii, 1, this piece; Platt II, p.335, type B; MI I, 390/12; MH 33; E 179). About extremely fine, extremely rare £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The North Yorkshire Moors Collection of British Coins.

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Provenance: G.D. Paterson Collection, Christie’s Auction, 25 November 1969, lot 139; bt Baldwin.

In October 1649 the Council of State and Admiralty ordered rewards in gold (and maybe also silver, which were not mentioned), for the action at Helvoetsluys in April 1649, burning one of Rupert’s ships, Antelope, an ex-Commonwealth vessel which was being reconditioned. This was primarily a propaganda expedition. It is possible that these naval medals were also given for later actions, although the absence of a third, Scottish, shield might give a terminal date of 1651 or 1652. The reverse is from the same die as the small Dunbar medal of 1650 (Lot 1168). Five or six specimens are known in silver and one in gold (British Museum)

In the opinion of DNW this piece has been plated. It is sold not subject to return