Charles II

Charles II, possible Pattern Halfcrown for an Irish coinage, silver, undated, by George Bower (?), laureate bust left, CAROLVS A CAROLO, rev., crowned harp within Garter, 34mm (MI 599/285). Strictly fine but extremely rare.

The puncheon for the image is the same as that on the Samuel Morland medal of 1681 (MI 582/258), a piece which MI does not hesitate to attribute to George Bower. That it is not struck "en médaille" (ie with a top common to both sides), does seem to point it to being a pattern coin; however if it is it has no official status.

Provenance: Bt D. Fearon, July 2007.