M & H
1644 Charles Oxford Mint Rawlins Crown Electrotype
Charles I 91625 - 49) Oxford Mint (1642 - 46), electrotype copy of the British Museum's celebrated specimen of the 1644 Oxford crown by Thomas Rawlins. Charles on horseback left, holding sword and reins, with OXON over a view of the city of Oxford beneath the horse. rev EXVRGAT (floral scroll) DEVS DISSIPENTVR (floral spray) INIMICI (floral spray) , RELIG • PROT • LEG/ ANG • LIBER • PARL between floral scrolls; three plumes and V above, 1644 and OXON below. (cf Morrieson, Oxford A-1; Brooker 876 (same dies); North 2407; S.2948; Brooker 1269)
Description as from the recent CNG and ARS Classica Geoffrey Cope sale "This wonderful type is the only 'city view' coin ever to be issued the British series and has for centuries been coveted for both its artistry and its rarity. Writing in 1955, Humphrey Sutherland praised Rawlins's 'consummate skill' in 'the rendering of the king's horse, all fire and movement, with mane tossing and tail waving, against the placid view of Oxford city' before going on to state that 'Rawlins's design must always stand out as one of the more heroic representations of English kingship, spirited and yet sublime in feeling, original in conception, and so exquisitely engraved that progressive enlargement only serves to bring out new beauties in detail."
Electrotypes as this incredible coin, were made by The Ready family in the 1800's from coins within the British museums collection. These render an unmatched likeness to the originals. Only 3 originals are in private collections and in May 2024 the Cope example ( ex Lockett) sold for over £350,000 !