I found an extremely rare coin from 400 years ago – now I’ve sold it for an eye-watering price
THE finder of an extremely rare coin from 400 years ago has now sold it for an eye-watering price.
The lucky seller discovered a six-sided shilling from the 17th century, showing an illustration of a castle destroyed in the English Civil War.
The rare coin was minted during Charles I’s reign as he and his followers battled a revolt led by Oliver Cromwell to take charge of Parliament.
One side of the shilling gives the date 1648 and the initials PC over the gateway to Pontefract Castle in West Yorkshire.
The castle was used as a base for the king’s Royalist supporters in northern England, where they expected to be reinforced by an army marching from Scotland.
This was headed by the Duke of Hamilton but his forces were defeated at Preston in Lancashire, leaving Pontefract Castle isolated against Roundhead troops.
The coin has now gone under the hammer, sold in Mayfair in London by auctioneers Noonans for £3,000 – £1,000 more than expected.
The firm said in the shilling’s listing: “Despite the gloomy outlook, Pontefract Castle held out throughout the autumn and winter, resisting the best efforts of Cromwellian generals.
“The castle finally fell at the end of March 1649.
“Despite being one of the largest in England, it was systematically demolished within weeks.”
A shilling minted ten years after this one, carrying the head of Roundhead leader Cromwell, sold for £2,400 at the same sale.
Another Charles I coin – this one showing his HQ in Oxford – was previously discovered by a grandma in Hull in East Yorkshire while she was clearing out a box of junk.
A metal detectorist recently uncovered the UK’s oldest gold coins hoard dating back 2,173 years and worth £30,000, while searching farmland in Buckinghamshire.
Meanwhile, a rare coin collection from 500 years ago, was also unearthed in Worcester.
Money experts have advised how coins tucked in your pocket could be worth more than you imagine – such as a £2 coin and a 20p piece with rare glitches.
There have also been many limited-edition coins issued by the Royal Mint, such as a rare Olympics-themed 50p highlighting the triathlon event.
There are also coins which celebrate Kew Gardens or feature a design by a young viewer of BBC One programme Blue Peter.
Coin experts at Change Checker have highlighted the rarest 20p coins which could sell for up to £1, 400.
An unusual 10p piece has been put at 300 times its face value and six dateless 20p coins were recently bought for more than £300 in Redditch in Worcestershire.
A study identified the 11 rarest £2 coins which could help people cash in, garnering eager interest on auction site eBay.
And special royal family-themed coins are said to be worth even more.