Great Britain Pound, Half Pound, Crown and Half Crown 1642 to 1645

As best we can tell, Libby, you have a half pound from Charles I dated 1643. As stated on JustAnswers, Charles was unavailable in 1647. The top of the '3' in 1643 could easily be mistaken for a '7'. The full inscriptions are:

CAROLUS D G MAG BRIT FRA ET HIB REX
EXVRGAT DEVS DISSIPENTVR INIMICI
RELIG PROT LEG/ANGL LIBER PAR

which, admittedly, are difficult to read. The denominations are:

XX: pound (about 50 mm diameter)
X: half pound (about 45 mm diameter)
V: crown (about 40 mm diameter)
no letter between flowers/plumes: half crown (about 35 mm diameter)

These are valuable coins, and you must watch for counterfeits. The sample in our picture is a full pound (XX) from Gemini Auctions where it sold for $5000 US dollars in a 2005 auction. CoinQuest thanks Gemini for use of their coin photo. It's a neat item!

As with all old coins like this, each coin stands on its own merits. Coins with well defined inscriptions and devices and good eye appeal are eagerly sought by well-to-do collectors. The catalog values below give very approximate guidance.

HALF CROWN
worn: $200 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1000
well preserved: $2500

CROWN
worn: $700 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $3000
well preserved: $8000

HALF POUND
worn: $1000 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $4000
well preserved: $10000

POUND
worn: $2000 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $8000
well preserved: $16000

If you have a coin like this and want an estimate from CoinQuest based on pictures you take, use the Contact Us link to start and e-mail exchange.
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