Charles I (1625-1649), Bristol mint, Halfcrown, 1643, mm. acorn on obv., Br on rev., horseman with flat crown, large Oxford plume behind, no ground line, three Bristol plumes above Declaration, date below, 13.71g/6h (Bull 637/10c (D13-1a), this coin; Morr. C-10; cf. SCBI Brooker 974; N 2488; S 3006). Very fine, dark tone, rare £600-£800

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: Christie’s Auction, 24 February 1988, lot 85; B.J. Dawson Collection, DNW Auction 156, 21 March 2019, lot 65.

Bristol was taken by the Royalists under Prince Rupert on 27 july 1643, and on 3 August Charles I made his entry into the city. Bristol was of great importance, as it gave the King a stronghold in the west and access to the Bristol Channel. A garrison was assigned to it and it became, after Oxford, the second capital, and remained so until it was surrendered to the troops of the Commonwealth under Sir Thomas Fairfax on 11 September 1645. Pay was required for the troops, and the expenses of the civil administration had to be met, so money had to be provided. It was therefore decided to establish a mint, which was set up in Bristol castle under the expert mintmaster, Thomas Bushell. It was actually an advantage for Bushell to have a branch at Bristol, as he could bring silver direct from Aberystwyth by sea