Petition Crown of Charles II
A ‘Petition Crown’ of Charles II has been sold for CHF 949,375 ($1 million) to become the most expensive British silver coin ever sold at auction. The coin was included in a joint sale on May 8, 2024, by Numismatica Ars Classica, Classical Numismatic Group and Numismatica Genevensis of the Cope Collection of prized British and Roman coins. The collection realized a total of CHF 8 million ($8.8 million), while the auction as a whole realized CHF 20 million ($22 million) across three days.
The Petition Crown of Charles II was struck by celebrated medallist Thomas Simon in 1663 to petition the King to rehire him as the sole Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint. Making use of new mechanical technology, Simon printed a message around the edge of the coin entreating the King to “compare this his tryall piece with the Dutch”. The coin features a striking portrait so detailed that even the veins on the King’s neck can be made out. Though masterfully executed, Simon’s Petition Crown failed to persuade Charles II to use his work for coinage.