A superb example of one of these beautiful milled coins has recently been sold for CHF 949,375 ($1 million) making it the most expensive British silver coin ever sold at auction. The coin was included in a joint sale in Zurich on 8 May 2024 by Numismatica Ars Classica, Classical Numismatic Group and Numismatica Genevensis of the Cope Collection of prized British and Roman coins. The sale of this remarkable coin further underlines the confidence in the market for superb and rare British coins. The ‘Petition Crown’ 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. Simon even created 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, and widely considered these days to be the most beautiful of machine made coins ever created – Simon’s ‘Petition Crown’ failed to persuade Charles II to use his work for coinage. (Images Courtesy of Stephen Wakeham). Might there be another example of this supreme coin lurking out their in the clay-ridden soils of Britain or elsewhere – just awaiting a detectorists coil to pass over it – highly unlikely but you never know – Best Jules.
