Lot 1054

Description

Charles II, pattern farthing in silver, 1665, obv. CAROLVS A CAROLO, laureate and cuirassed bust to left, with long hair, rev. Britannia seated to left, around QVATVOR MA RIA VINDICO, BRITTANIA in exergue, (S.-, Peck 422). Toned, nearly fine and rare.

The official pattern for the copper coinage, from dies made by John Roettier. This the first use of the Britannia seated reverse and it was probably inspired from the reverse of certain rare sestertii of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius. With this issue by Roettier a design was used varying only in small detail from the issue 1500 years earlier. Opinions differ as to whether the figure of Britannia is really that of Frances Stewart afterwards the Duchess of Richmond and it could have been copied from a painting of Frances Stewart painted in 1664. Pepys in his diary recognised that face of Mrs. Stewart on the coin but he could have been the victim of a rather convincing rumour or wishful thinking.