M & H
1626 - 27 Charles I Tower mm Blackmoors Head Shilling - Ex B Lyall
£1,300
Charles I (1625 - 49) Tower mint under the king (1625 - 42) , Shilling, Group B, mm. negro’s head, bust 2, colon stops, rev. no stops, 5.91g/7h (Sharp B2/1; cf. SCBI Brooker 409, same obv. die; N 2218; S 2784)
This is not just a coin—it’s an unsolved historical enigma, a whisper from the 17th century, a coin shrouded in intrigue. Why did the Tower Mint adopt the Blackmoor’s Head mintmark in 1626–1627? No records explain its origin, leading to theories ranging from diplomatic trade symbolism to foreign silver imports. One tantalizing possibility? A connection to Sir John Bankes, Charles I’s esteemed Attorney General, whose coat of arms prominently features a Blackmoor’s Head. Or perhaps a link to the House of Savoy, a dynasty that would later count itself among Charles I’s direct descendants. Compounding the mystery and desirability, the Pyx Trial records confirm an incredibly low silver output, making any surviving Charles I silver coins with this mintmark exceptionally rare and highly elusive. Even more astonishing, this coin carries a possible anti-Royalist protest—an X deliberately marked in front of the king’s face, a silent act of defiance in an era of political unrest. This is a piece of numismatic history that demands to be studied, displayed, and revered.
Provenance