Civil War - Royalist

Production dates, amounts, and estimated surviving examples are given for each mint. Estimates are based on an average 1–5% survival rate of coins of the period due to circulation, clipping, and melting so counts may vary from lists of known examples of specific issues.

Aberystwyth (Dovey) Furnace

1648-9 Groat minted in Aberystwyth (Dovey) Furnace

CAROLVS D G MAG BRI FRA ET HIB REX
Crowned bust left.

CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO
Oval garnished shield with large plume above.

S 2911. Crown mintmark.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle

In operation from late 1645 to February 28, 1646 when the beseiged castle surrendered. Issues are identified by an "A" mintmark and have features associated with Bristol-mint dies - the Bristol garrison and mint workers had relocated to Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle in September 1645. Original production is estimated at under 2,000 coins with about 20-30 surviving. Issues include Halfcrowns, Shillngs, Groats and Threepences.

1645 Shilling minted in Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle


Morris A-1, S 3031. Plume mintmark. A below date, no plume before Charles' face. Castle siege. Ex Tim Owen, Dave Simms, History in Coins. Rarest of the two Ashby shillings with fewer than 20 believed to exist (2025).

Bridgnorth on Severn Castle

In operation from late 1645 to April 1646 when the beseiged castle surrendered. Issues are identified by a "B" mintmark. Original production is estimated at under 1,000 coins with about 12-18 surviving. Issues include Halfcrowns, Shillings, Sixpences, Groats and Threepences.

1646 Sixpence minted in Bridgnorth on Severn

CAROLVS D G MAG B F ET HI REX
Crowned bust left.

EXVRG: DEVS. DISSIPEN: INIMICI
REL: PROT: / LEG: ANG: / LIB: PAR

Brooker 1132, N 2523, S 3041. Castle siege. B mintmark. Rare with only 2 examples sold publicly in recent times (2025).

1646 Halfcrown minted in Bridgnorth on Severn

CAROLVS D G MAG BR FR ET HIB REX
Plumelet behind horseman.

EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENIVR INIMICI
Plume between two plumelets and scroll above REL: PRO: / LE: AN: LI: PA

Bull 650/3 (D33-2c), Morrison B-3, Brooker 1123a, N 2516, S 3037. Obverse die used in Oxford, Ashby (A under plume) and now Bridgnorth. Plumelet mintmark. Ex S. Simpson, R. P. V. Brettel, Brian Dawson.

Bristol

In operation from mid 1643 to September 10, 1645 when the city surrendered. Issues are identified by a "Br" mintmark. Original production is estimated at 50,000-100,000 coins with about 500-1000 surviving. Issues include Crowns, Halfcrowns, Shillings, Sixpences, Groats, Threepences, Halfgroats, Pennies, gold Unites and Double Crowns.

1643-5 Halfgroat minted in Bristol

Bust of Charles left, II behind.

Declaration.

S 3026. BR mintmark. Doubled portrait.

1644 Shilling minted in Bristol

CAROLVS D G MAG R FR ET H REX
Bust of Charles left, XII behind.

EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENVE INIMICI
RELIG: PRO / LEG: ANG / LIB: PAR

N 2499, S 3015. BR mintmark.

1643 Halfcrown minted in Bristol

Horseman wearing curious flat crown, without groundline.

Declaration in two lines, three plumes above.

North 2488, S 3006. BR mintmark.

Carlisle Castle

In operation from mid 1644 to June 28, 1645 when the beseiged castle surrendered. Issues can read "OBS CARL" (obsidium → "siege"). Original production is estimated at 2,000-4,000 coins with about 20-30 surviving. Issues include Halfcrowns, Shillings, and Threepences.

1645 Shilling minted in Carlisle Castle

Large crown above CR XII within inner circle and outer circle of pellets.

OBS / CARL / 1645

North 263, S 3138. Castle siege. Ex Carlyon Britton Collection, Seaby's Coin Bulletin Nov 1961 SP12

Colchester Castle

Colchester was originally thought to have produced coinage during the siege in the summer of 1848 during the Second Civil War, but it is now believed all pieces were produced at a later time.

1648 Half Unite / Double Crown minted in Colchester Castle

	OBS : COL Castle gateway dividing the crowned royal cipher CR
Nelson 37, North 2637, S 2700. Ex Seaby's "Black Museum" forgery reference collection, 1985 - Robert Ready (1859-1897) cast from an electrotype.

Exeter

In operation from late 1643 to April 13, 1646 when the city surrendered following a siege. Issues are identified by an "Ex" mintmark, rose privy marks, and with dates from 1644-45 on the coins. Original production is estimated at 30,000-60,000 coins with about 400-800 surviving. Issues include Crowns, Halfcrowns, Shillngs, Sixpences, Groats, Threepences, Halfgroats, Pennies, gold Unites, Half-Unites and Crowns.

1644 Groat minted in Exeter

Bust with IIII behind.

Oval scroll-garnished shield.

S 3088.

1643-46 Halfcrown minted in Exeter

Horseman with twisted tail.

Oval scroll-garnished shield.

North 2550/1, S 3065. Rose mintmark. Ex A. Morris.

1645 Crown minted in Exeter

King on horse, seated left, sash with two loose ends.

Oval scroll-garnished shield.

North 2561, S 3062. Castle mintmark.

Hartlebury Castle

In operation from early 1646 to May 1646 when the beseiged castle surrendered. Issues are identified by an "HC" mintmark. Original production is estimated at 500-1,000 coins with about 5-10 surviving. Issues include Halfcrowns and possibly Shillings.

1646 Halfcrown minted in Hartlebury Castle


S 3129. Pear/three pears mintmark, HC below shield. Ex Roderick Richardson. Fewer than 30 known (2025).

Newark

In operation from late 1645 to May 6, 1646 when the town surrendered. Issues can read "OBS NEWARK(E)" (obsidium → "siege"). Original production is estimated at 5,000-10,000 coins with about 100-200 surviving. Issues include Halfcrowns, Shillings, Ninepences, and Sixpences.

1645 Ninepence minted in Newark

Large crown between CR.

OBS / NEWARKE

North 2641, S 3145. Stippling from the underlying type is visible.

1645 Shilling minted in Newark

Large crown between CR.

OBS / NEWARKE

Hird 252, North 2640, S 3142. Ex Alderman Horace Hird.

1645 Halfcrown minted in Newark

Large crown between CR.

OBS / NEWARK

Bull 686, Hird 245, Brooker 1221, N 2638, S 3140. Top of the reverse shows the underlying type. Ex Alan Morris, Welsh Marches, S. Mote.

Oxford

In operation from January 1643 to June 24, 1646 when the town surrendered. Issues are identified by an "OX" mintmark, plume or book privy marks, and with dates from 1642-46. Original production is estimated at 200,000-300,000 coins with about 4,000-6,000 surviving. Issues include Pounds, Half Pounds, Crowns, Halfcrowns, Shillings, Sixpences, Groats, Threepences, Halfgroats, Pennies, gold Triple Unites, Unites, and Double Crowns.

ca. 1644 Halfgroat minted in Oxford

Small bust left.

Large plume in field.

S 2996.

1644 Groat minted in Oxford

Bust left.

Three Oxford plumes above Declaration.

Brooker 957.

1642 Shilling minted in Oxford

Bust left.

Three Oxford plumes above Declaration.

Morrieson D-1. Plumes mintmark. Aylesbury Civil War Hoard. Morrieson D-1 discovery coin.

1644 Shilling minted in Oxford


S 2979. Rawlins dies. Spink plate coin. Ex Mark Rasmussen, Geoffrey Cope, SNC 1962, R C Lockett - 1956, F A Waters - Sotherby 1932

1044 Shilling minted in Oxford

Crowned bust left, value behind

Three Oxford plumes above Declaration.

Morrison C-7, Brooker 941, North 2448, S 2975. 1044 error date. Shrewsbury plume mintmark. Ex S.R. Naish, Brooker - Brooker 941 is this coin. Six are known to exist (2025).

1643 Halfcrown minted in Oxford

Oxford Horseman, no groundline below, Oxford plume in field.

Declaration in two lines, Three small Oxford plumes above, date below.

Bull Oxford 596P (E-DI/I-SI), N 2413, S 2954. Ex Trench hoard. Bull Oxford plate coin. 1 of 2 known (2026).

1643 Halfcrown minted in Oxford

CAROLLVS D G MA BRIT FRA ET HI REX
Briot's horseman, grassy ground below.

Three Oxford plumes above Declaration.

Bull Oxford 604/D, North 2416, S 2956, PAS: DOR-180F98 = BM 2019 T966/142 this coin. Ansty (Dorset) Civil War Hoard. LL in CAROLLVS, C over G in RELIG. Third discovered of three known (2025).

1644 Halfcrown minted in Oxford

Briot’s horseman, Oxford plume behind, sloping ground line below.

Declaration in two lines, large plume between two smaller above, all between pellets, small date between plumelets and OX between pellets below, small rosette before legend.

Bull Oxford 610B, S 2967. Ex Maurice Bull Collection. Plumes by the date, large center plume above declaration.

1644 Halfcrown minted in Oxford

Briot’s horseman, Oxford plume behind, ground line below.

Large plume between two Oxford plumes above Declaration, date in script and ox between pellets below.

Bull Oxford 615A, North 2425, S 2965A. Ex H. M. Lingford Collection, A. Morris Collection, L. Bennett, Rob Pearce, Dr. Hulett, Maurice Bull Collection. Large center plume above declaration.

1642 Half Pound minted in Oxford

Horseman riding left.

Declaration between two straight lines.

S 2945.

1643 Unite minted in Oxford


Beresford-Jones VIII/12, Brooker 851 same dies, SCBI Schneider 317 same dies, S 2732. Ex Maurice Bull Collection.

Pontefract Castle

In operation from June 1648 to March 25, 1649, past the execution of Charles I in support of Charles II. Issues can read "OBS PC" (obsidium → "siege"). Original production is estimated at 300-600 coins with about 8-12 surviving. Issues include Halfcrowns and Shillings.

1648 Shilling minted in Pontefract Castle

DVM : SPIRO : SPERO.
Crowned CR.

OBS / P XII C
Castle gateway with flag.

Hird 276, Brooker 1233, North 2647, S 3149. Lozenge. Castle siege.

1648 Shilling minted in Pontefract Castle

DVM : SPIRO : SPERO.
Crowned CR.

OBS / P XII C
Castle gateway with flag.

Hird 277, North 2647, S 3149. Round. Castle siege. Ex Martin Hughes Collection.

1648 Shilling minted in Pontefract Castle

DVM : SPIRO : SPERO.
Crowned CR.

OBS / P C
Castle gateway with flag dividing PC.

North 2646, S 3148. Octagonal. Castle siege. Ex Glendennings 11/19/75 lot 503, Spink auction 107 11/22/94 lot 167 (cover).

Scarborough Castle

In operation from early 1648 to early 1649 during an 11 month siege, surrendering December 22, 1648. Issues are generally lozenge or octagonal pieces with a crude representation of the castle and a denomination, but appear to also have struck the Fortuna issues without a denomination. Original production is estimated at 250-500 pieces with a denomination, with about 15-22 surviving. Issues include Halfcrowns, Shillings, and a very low number of gold pieces.

ca. 1645 (orig) Shilling minted in Scarborough

	Caroli Fortuna resurgam Castle
N 2651, Brooker 1270 (orig). The blank reverse (vs. the obverse castle impressed through) implies it is a later copy, perhaps by Gifford.

Shrewsbury

In operation from October 1642 to June 1644, then relocated to Oxford in June 1644. Issues are identified by the "S" mintmark, plume or leopard's head privy marks, and with dates from 1642-44. Original production is estimated at 40,000-80,000 coins with about 800-1,200 surviving. Issues include Pounds, Half Pounds, Crowns, Halfcrowns, Shillings, Sixpences, Groats, Threepences, gold Unites, and Double Crowns.

1642 Pound minted in Shrewsbury

Horseman riding left.

Declaration between two straight lines.

Morrison A-4, Brooker 796, North 2361, S 2917.

1642 Halfcrown minted in Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury horseman, Shrewsbury plume in field behind, no ground line below.

2 plume 6 above Declaration.

Bull 585/3a, Morrison C-3, Brooker 817, N 3930, S 2930. Spink plate coin. Ex Archbishop of York Dr. John Sharp (1645–1714, Archbishop 1691-1714 under William III/Mary II and Anne). 7 known with 3 in the British museum, and this one in the 2nd highest grade of the 7 (2025).

Worcester

In operation from late 1643 to mid 1644. Issues are identified by a "W" mintmark (sometimes with a lion or castle) and crude late-war production. Original production is estimated at 800-1,500 coins with about 10-15 surviving. Issues include Halfcrowns, Shillings, and possibly Sixpences.

1644 Halfcrown minted in Worcester

S 3093. Fewer than 12 known to exist, most in museums (2025). Ex J.D. Cuff Col. (Sotheby's June 1854), A and E Wigan; Col. (which was purchased en bloc by Rollin & Feuardent in 1872), J.F. Neck Col. (acquired by H. Webb c.1884), H. Webb Col. (Sotheby's July 1894), H. Montagu Col. II (Sotheby,13 November 1896), Baldwins 1951, Frank Raphael Waley, OBE, MC, collection (1893-1987), Waley family by decent; dispersed via Baldwin's (2024).

1644 Halfcrown minted in Worcester

King on horseback left, horse's tail between legs and mane blown forward, small W below.

Square crowned shield.

JGB 1142, N 2587, S 3096.

York

In operation from late 1642 to July 16, 1644 when the town surrendered after a siege. Issues are identified by a lion mintmark or "EBOR" (Eboracum, Latin for York), with dates 1643-44. Original production is estimated at 25,000-50,000 coins with about 600-900 surviving. Issues include Halfpounds, Crowns, Halfcrowns, Shillings, Sixpences, Groats and Threepences.

1643-44 Threepence minted in York