Description

Charles I. 1625-1649. Silver Medal n. d. (1648), 7.83 g. Release of Charles I. / Call to Unanimity. By N. Briot. Bust, laureate and draped. CAROLVS . I . D : G . ANGL . SCOT . FR . ET . HIB REX . Rv. Three crowns united by a cord. VNITÆ . INVICTÆ. Plain edge. 28.5 mm. Eimer 154. MI i 336/180. Sehr schön / Very Fine. Kratzer / Scratches.

Following his defeat in the First English Civil War, in May 1646 Charles I surrendered to the Scots Covenanters, rather than Parliament. By doing so, he hoped to exploit divisions between English and Scottish Presbyterians, and English Independents. This medal was designed and struck at a time when there were efforts to free him and unite the realm once again under his rule.

The obverse of this piece was engraved as early as the year 1643, as it occurs upon pieces bearing that date and preserved at least until the Restoration, when it was used again, having escaped the seizure of the Mint property by the Parliamentarians. The object of these pieces was probably to exhort those who demanded the release of the King and had taken up arms for that purpose to be united if they wished to obtain success for their cause.