THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

THE COLLECTOR SERIES
Ramage of the Commonwealth, and three distinct varie-
ties of the crown with the head of Cromwell, of which
the finest, that by Simon, unfortunately presents more
or less the historical flaw caused by the fracture of
the die.
The earliest monetary examples associated with
Charles II. are the octagonal siege-pieces in gold and
silver, struck for use during the defence of Pontefract
Castle by Colonel Moms after the death of Charles I.,
with the legends Carolvs S'ecvndvs, 1648, and Post Mortem
Patris Pro Filio. In his ordinary coinage the new king
at first adopted the hammered system, but in 1662 re-
turned to that introduced under Cromwell. At the same
time he retained the gold broad and its divisions, aban-
doning- the hio-her denominations in that metal instituted
by his illustrious predecessor on the throne. Several
patterns were struck during this period, particularly the
famous Petition and Reddite crowns, so termed from the
legends, and at present of great rarity and value. In
the British Museum is an example of the former in the
original leather case ; it is said that only twelve were
struck, and in similar state one realised at an auction a
few years ago the sum of £500. From 1662 the coinage
embraced the guinea, two-guineas, half-guinea in gold,
to which in 1668 the five-guineas was added (Pepys tells
us that he ordered two on their first appearance in that
year) ; and in silver the crown, half-crown, shilling,
sixpence, and Maundy money. In 1672, after the issue
of some patterns, a halfpenny and farthing in Swedish
copper came into regular use, the seated figure of Bri-
180