Newark 1646 6 pence
This specimen was lot 1304 in CNG sale Triton XXVII (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $2,756.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Great Britain, STUART, Siege money. Newark. 1645-1646. AR Sixpence. In the name of Charles I. Dated 1646. Large crown; C R flanking, VI (mark of value) below / OBS :/ NEWARK/ 1646. Toned, with considerable luster on obverse. Good VF/VF. Struck on a flan cut from an engraved plate, with some armorial engraving still visible. Very rare. Ex Samuel Birchall of Leeds Collection (1761-1814).
During the English Civil Wars of 1642-1651, the countryside of the English Midlands and West tended to side with King Charles I, while the wealthy 'cathedral cities' tended to support the Parliamentarians. Newark-on-Trent, located in the East Midlands, was a vital nexus of Royalist control and, along with Oxford, represented dual salients into Parliamentarian-controlled territory in eastern England during the early phase of the first Civil War, 1642-1646. It was the target of Parliamentary sieges in 1642/3, 1643/4 and, finally, 1645/6, when the famous siege coinage was struck on cut up pieces of silver plate. Newark held out against the Parliamentarian armies until May 1646, when Charles surrendered himself at Southwell."
The besieged royalists also issued silver shillings, ninepence and half crowns. Altho these appear fairly regularly in auctions, high demand brings high prices.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 22x23 mm diameter, 2.50 g, 12 h axis.
Catalog reference: Brooker 1228 (same dies); North 2642; SCBC 3146.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- Korchnak, Lawrence C., Siege Coins of the World, 1453-1902, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2021.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- [1]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXVII, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2023.
Link to:
- 1646-B sixpence, Bridgnorth-on-Severn mint
- Newark 1646 9 pence siege issue
- Newark 1646 shilling siege coinage
- Newark 1646 1/2 crown siege coinage
- Coins and currency dated 1646