Great Britain (1638-39) shilling KM-187
The first specimen was lot 32541 in Heritage Sale 3115 (Chicago, May 2024), where it sold for $3,840. The catalog description[1] noted, "Great Britain: Charles I Shilling ND (1638-1639) AU58 NGC, Briot's mint at the Tower, Anchor mm. An exquisite representative from the famed Briot series of coinage, boasting clearly superior quality to contemporary hammered issues, here certified on the verge of Mint State and elevated by a premium lavender and magenta reverse patination." The second specimen was lot 41336 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, August 2026), where it sold for $1,342. The catalog description[2] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Shilling, ND (1638-39). London Mint; mm: Anchor and B. Charles I. NGC AU-55. Briot's Second Milled issue. Obverse: Crowned half-length bust left, value behind; Reverse: Cross moline over square-topped coat-of-arms. A charming About Uncirculated piece sporting an original appearance, with deep antique toning throughout. Better-struck than the average example of the type, with a relatively sharp portrait and only hints of adjustment marks visible." Charles' conflicts with Parliament and his subsequent inability to raise funds cramped the production of coin. The SCWC lists over fifty different types of shillings for Charles I. For 1638-39 alone, we note KM 110, KM 187 (shown here), 188, 192, 193, 194, 195 and 196. Milled coinage finally superseded the hammered coinage in 1664. However, the old hammered coin was not called in and melted until 1696-97. This coin was produced by Nicholas Briot (c.1579-1646) who introduced an improved coining press to England and served as mintmaster to Charles I at the Tower mint and in Scotland. His innovations met resistance and England did not abandon hammered coinage until the 1660's.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.02 g, 0.925 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 187, S-2859. The second specimen is S-2859; KM-186; N-2305.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2024 May 8 - 10 CSNS World Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction #3115, featuring the Ezen Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2024.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
Link to:
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- (1638-39) shilling, Aberystwyth mint
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