1642 Charles I Oxford Mint Halfcrown - Bull 594B - 1 of 3 Known

Charles I (1625-1649),Oxford Mint (1642 - 46), 'Declaration' Halfcrown, 1642,  'Oxford' horseman King trotting left, sword upright, Oxford plume behind back with bands, no ground line, rev.  Declaration in two lines reading: RELIG : PROT : LEG | ANG : LIBER : PAR, 1642 below, three even Oxford plumes above,  m.m. plume [on obv. only] (S.2953; N.2412; Bull 594/B; Morrieson F-3; Brooker 882/- ) weight - 14.95 grams 

Struck on a squarish shaped flan but full weight, with a very pleasing tone. The obverse portrait most appealing, and the reverse even better showing several die striation marks. 1642 is the hardest year of Oxford Halfcrowns to find in a good grade. Bull 594B illustrated on page 53 of the newly published book "Charles I Oxford Mint Halfcrowns" records just 3 specimens, one of which has been recently donated to the Ashmolean Museum. 

Provenance

Seabys Coin Monthly Bulletin, December 1957, no. 7512 - nearly very fine - £2.12.6
Lt.-Col. A E Bray, Glendining, 1 May 1985, lot 126