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STUART. Charles I. 1625-1649. AR Halfpound (46mm, 58.21 g, 12h). Declaration type. Oxford mint; im: plume. [Dated 1642]. Charles on horseback left, holding sword and reins, trampling small pile of arms below; Oxford plume to right / RELIG : PROT/: LEG : ANG :/LIBER : PAR : in three lines within cartouche; [above, three plumes above -X- (mark of value); below, 1642]. Upper reverse field engraved with a depiction of Charles kneeling at the block with Bishop William Juxon to his left, the executioner (Richard Brandon?) to his right, and two soldiers flanking. The lower field engraved with a depiction of several figures on horseback, wearing broad-rimmed caps (Cromwell among them?), one carrying an English flag, among a group of soldiers. Morrieson, Oxford, A-2; Brooker 868 (same dies); North 2404; SCBC 2945. Richly toned, edge smoothed. VF. An extremely rare and priceless artifact.
Ex Elvira Elisa Clain-Stefanelli (“Demarete”) Collection (Stack’s, Bowers & Ponterio 174, 11 January 2013), lot 1318.
The reverse of this Oxford half pound has been re-engraved to show one of the most important moments in English history: the execution of Charles I on 30 January 1649, in front of the Banqueting House in Whitehall. The King is seen kneeling in prayer, with his friend Bishop Juxon to his right and the executioner, ax over shoulder, approaching from his left. The engraver certainly either copied from one of the several contemporary prints made of the execution or, more interestingly, may have even been an eyewitness to the death of Charles.
Before the headsman approached, Charles spoke to Juxon, “I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown; where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world.” He then turned to the executioner, saying “When I put my out my hands this way, then... stay for the sign.” After a brief pause, Charles reached out his hands. The ax fell and his head was severed in a single, swift blow.
The re-engraved lower field, while not as dramatic as the upper, nonetheless suggests some tantalizing information about the creator of this object. The engraving depicts a group of mounted figures, all wearing broad-rimmed caps, with one of them carrying an English flag. Around these are several pikemen. Taken in context with the upper field, this should be interpreted as showing a detachment of Cromwell’s New Model Army, with one of the mounted figures perhaps representing the Lord Protector himself. Accordingly, this piece should be seen as celebrating the death of the King, rather than lamenting it.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 127 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 17-18 September 2024. This lot is in Session Four, which will begin 18 September at 2 PM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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