Charles I pattern Half-Unite or Double Crown, mm trefoil UNIQUE, ex Martin, Bergne, Addington, Montagu, Murdoch, Carter, Brooker and English collections

Charles I (1625-49), Pattern Half-Unite or Double Crown of Ten Shillings, the earliest gold pattern known of this reign, crowned bust in Coronation robes facing left with value X behind, all within beaded circle, initial mark trefoil at top the mint mark used previously at the end of the reign of his Father James I, legend and outer beaded border surrounding, +CAROLVS D; G; MAG; BRIT; FRAN; ET HIB; REX, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, frosted caul to crown, beaded circles and legend surrounding, mint mark at end of legend, .CVLTORES. SVI. DEVS, PROTEGIT.+., weight 4.54g (Brooker 1263 this coin; WR 30 R6; North 2668 ER). Toned, with small flaw near value and some doubling in legends, a hint of wear to highest points only, has been graded and slabbed by NGC as AU53, unique, of the highest rarity and believed to be the first gold coin struck in the reign of Charles I, of the highest numismatic importance clearly defining the transition from the Father King James I utilising his last coinage mint mark into the first ever issue of the son Charles I in his Coronation robes as seen on the first gold issue under the mint mark lis in 1625, a once in a lifetime chance to secure such an important coin also not present in museum collections and with a great provenance.