HIGHEST GRADED CHARLES I SHILLING 

S2799 Ex Ryhall hoard mm triangle/circle. This English Civil War hoard was uncovered on 15 February 1987 in the back garden of a house in the village of Ryhall in eastern Rutland, just north of Stamford. The coins discovered in February  and November 1987 consisted of one gold and 3262 silver pieces.  Many of the coins are of Elizabeth I and James I, but two thirds are from the reign of Charles I.  A total of over 1700 are shillings with the triangle in circle initial mark, used from 1641-3.  Many of these shillings look mint-fresh indicating that the coins were probably hidden sometime in the spring of 1643.  A year earlier , in 1642 the English Civil war had started in earnest requirng vast amounts of coinage to raise troops.  The triangle in circle shillings in the hoard illustrate the collapse of minting standards, as output increased for the war effort. The weight standards of the coins were maintained as was fineness, but a large proportion of even mint fresh coins exhibit cracked or frayed edges, clipping, irregular shape, weak strikes, or struck with overused dies.  This coin appears to be a typical example from that hoard.  The legends are weak in places and the reverse was struck from an overused die but the king’s portrait (important for propaganda purposes), is sharp and complete with much original lustre. NGC MS64

NGC 2867451-001