An incredibly rare coin designed by an engraver for King Charles II 358 years ago is being tipped to sell for over £400,000.
After the restoration of the British monarchy in 1660, the king wanted to make Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth of England go down in history and ordered new coins to be made.
Two rival engravers battled it out for the job of designing them – Thomas Simon, an engraver who worked for the Royal Mint and Frenchman Pierre Blondeau, who helped Charles out when he was exiled in France.
Blondeau came out as the winner and he was appointed chief engraver. As a result Simon only produced a few coins, making them extremely rare and sought-after.
The rare coin – the petition crown – designed by English engraver Thomas Simon is on sale for £400,000 in New York this month
It was made to try to convince King Charles II to give Simon a contract as the chief engraver to the monarch, a battle he lost to Frenchman Pierre Blondeau
Around the edge (pictured), Simon engraved a message to the king, pleading with him to choose his design
But one – the petition crown – has been found by an part-time antiques dealer and is going on the market in New York for a staggering £400,000.
THE MAN BEHIND THE PATTERNED CROWN
Thomas Simon was born in Yorkshire around the year 1623.
He studied engraving and was taught by French coin engraver Nicholas Briot.
He later got a post with the Royal Mint, where he was appointed joint chief Parliament engraver with Edward Wade.
After the monarchy’s restoration in 1660 he petitioned King Charles II to take on his coin design for the new patterned crown.
He lost out to Pierre Blondeau but the coin was considered his masterpiece.
He is believed to have died of the plague in London.
It is tipped to break the world record price paid for a British silver coin.
Simon’s crown design features a bust of Charles II on one side, complete with his flowing hair and laurel leave headpiece, and the crowned shields of England, Scotland, Ireland and France around a picture of St George on the other.
Around the edge, Simon engraved a message to the king, pleading with him to choose his design.
It reads: ‘Thomas Simon most hvmbly (sic) prays yovr majesty to compare this his tryall with the Dvtch and if more trvly drawn & emboss’d more grace; fvlly order’d and more accurately engraven to relieve him.’
Commenting on the rare find the auctioneers claim it is the most ‘important and famous’ of all of its English collection.
Ira Goldberg, of Los Angeles-based Goldberg Auctioneers, said: ‘This is the most important and most famous coin in the entire English series.
‘Of the 10 known examples, this one ranks among the top three.
‘The coin is considered an experimental coin as it was issued as a plea to the crown to impress King Charles II to accept Simon’s design over the competition which included a Frenchman Pierre Blondeau, whom won out. The current vendor is a part-time dealer who has chosen to sell the coin to raise some funds.
‘The interest in this rarity will be among serious collectors of English crowns, collectors of historical coins and patterns, investors who desire powerful coins.’ The coin will go up for auction in New York on January 9.
Pictured: King Charles II was made King of England when the monarchy was restored in 1660