Charles II Crown

The Charles II Crown is a large silver five-shilling coin struck during the reign of Charles II, whose Restoration reign ran from 1660 to 1685. Unlike the hand-struck crowns of earlier reigns, it belongs to the milled series, produced on machinery at the Tower Mint and struck to a regular round shape with a lettered edge.

The crown was among the largest circulating silver coins of the period and is a popular type with collectors of Stuart and early milled English coinage. Because it circulated heavily and is now several centuries old, many surviving examples show significant wear, corrosion or damage, and condition varies enormously from piece to piece.

Charles II returned to the throne in 1660 at the Restoration of the monarchy, following the Commonwealth period. Early in the reign the old hammered coinage continued briefly, but in 1662 England adopted machine-made "milled" coinage on a permanent basis, and the milled silver crown was introduced as part of this modernized currency.

The milled crown was produced across much of the reign to about 1685, using portrait designs by the engraver John Roettier. The lettered edge, carrying the motto DECVS ET TVTAMEN ("an ornament and a safeguard") together with the regnal year, was introduced in part as an anti-clipping and anti-forgery measure. Some issues carry small provenance marks below the bust, such as a rose, plume, or an elephant (or elephant and castle), indicating the source of the silver.

The obverse shows a laureate, draped bust of Charles II facing right, surrounded by a Latin royal legend beginning CAROLVS II DEI GRATIA. On heavily worn or corroded coins, the right-facing laureate head is usually the most recognizable surviving feature even when finer detail is lost. The reverse displays four crowned shields of arms arranged in a cross (cruciform), with interlinked C's in the angles between them and a central star of the Order of the Garter.

The coin is a large milled silver piece, roughly 38-40 mm in diameter and weighing on the order of 29-30 grams, struck in sterling-standard silver. Being machine-struck, genuine examples are essentially round with a lettered edge, in contrast to the irregular flans of earlier hammered crowns.

The date is generally rendered on the reverse and, together with the regnal year spelled out on the edge, helps place a coin within the reign. On the corroded example shown here, edge and date detail may be difficult or impossible to read, so attribution relies on the overall bust-and-shields design and the coin's size and metal.

Charles II crowns are collectable but were struck in quantity over more than two decades, so common dates in low grade are relatively affordable. Heavily worn, corroded or damaged examples like the one pictured typically trade from a modest premium over their silver content up into the low hundreds of pounds or dollars, depending on how much design remains.

Problem-free coins in genuinely collectable grade generally command higher sums, and attractive pieces with clear detail, scarcer dates, or desirable provenance marks (such as the elephant) can reach into the thousands. Corrosion, holes, cleaning and damage sharply reduce value, so a piece with surface pitting or perforation is worth far less than a sound example of the same date.

As a well-known and valuable large silver coin, the type has been widely copied and forged. Weight, diameter, edge lettering and metal composition should all be checked, and significant purchases are best made from reputable sources or with independent authentication.