Mhcoins

1648 Charles I Pontefract Shilling

£3,600
Charles I (1625-1649), Pontefract, Charles II, Shilling, 1648, type 1, large crown above c r, rev. carolvs secvndvs and date, castle gateway, obs to left, p c [Pontefract Castle] above, cannon protruding at right, octagonal flan (Hird 279-81 and SCBI Brooker 1234, same dies; N 2648; S 3150) 

Provenance
SNC March 1966 (1511). 

Pontefract, at this period also known as Pomfret, Castle was seized on June 2, 1648, on behalf of the king, by a colonel in the forces of Sir Marmaduke Langdale, one John Morris or Maurice, who, with the aid of a few soldiers disguised as peasants, overcame the small garrison of this most important station, the key to the North.

The castle was besieged by Cromwell in the following autumn, who, however, left General Lambert to conduct the bombardment. Pontefract successfully resisted all attacks and only yielding on March 22, 1649, i.e., nearly two months after the execution of Charles I. Following the surrender, several officers, who had been excepted from " The Act of Grace," were executed, including the commander, Colonel John Morris, who might have escaped from prison, but loyally remained to succour a fallen comrade.

The siege-coins struck at Pomfret may be grouped into two main divisions; the one issued during the reign of Charles I. ; the other subsequently to his execution, and in the name of his successor, for the garrison immediately acknowledged his son as King Charles II.


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