Charles I shilling minted during English Civil War to fetch up to £12,000 at auction

The Charles I shilling, minted in 1645, is expected to fetch between £8,000 to £12,000. This type of currency, known as 'siege coins', was used as emergency money during the Civil War to pay soldiers and conduct daily transactions.

A Charles I shilling, minted in 1645 during the siege of Carlisle, is set to fetch up to £12,000 at auction.

The coin was struck as emergency currency to pay soldiers and conduct daily transactions while the town was cut off from the main Royalist forces.

As a result, any silver available, such as church plate, flagons or private flatware, was turned into coin.

The shilling is part of the Frank Waley Collection of Hammered Silver and Milled Gold, which will be auctioned at Baldwin’s Auction House in London on December 11.

The Charles I shilling, minted in 1645, is expected to fetch between £8,000 to £12,000 at auction (Mitchells)

The shilling is expected to fetch between £8,000 to £12,000.

This type of currency, known as 'siege coins', was used as emergency money during the Civil War to pay soldiers and conduct daily transactions.

Carlisle, a key Royalist stronghold in northern England, was besieged for eight months following Royalist defeat at Marston Moor in Yorkshire.

The garrison, led by Sir Thomas Glenham, defended the fortress amidst severe shortages of food and supplies.

The siege ended in June 1645 when the weakened defenders negotiated terms of surrender.

They were permitted to march away with their weapons to join their King.

The coins were often struck with the letters OBS, which stands for the Latin word obsessum (besieged) or perhaps obsidio (siege).

The mint master’s initials, usually I.S, also appear on the coins, and they are known to have been struck on a variety of presses, including a rolling mill, screw press and even a coining press.

The coins were struck in a variety of denominations, including farthings, half groats, groats, half crowns, crowns, and even a few double crowns.

They were usually struck from silver, but some gold siege coins were also produced.

The coins were often made from any silver that could be found, including church plate, flagons, private flatware, and even spoons.

The coins were usually struck very quickly, and as a result, they are often quite crude in appearance.

However, they are also quite interesting, and they provide a valuable glimpse into the economic and political conditions of England during the Civil War.