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Tuesday 11 April 2023

2774) "The Petition Crown", United Kingdom: "Master Engravers Coin Series": Thomas Simon's Crown Coin designed as a direct response to the newly restored King Charles II to consider his own work for use on English coinage: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023:

2774) "The Petition Crown", United Kingdom: "Master Engravers Coin Series": Thomas Simon's Crown Coin designed as a direct response to the newly restored King Charles II to consider his own work for use on English coinage: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023:

The Header/Banner showcases in Silver and Gold Thomas Simon's "Petition" Crown to the newly restored King Charles II to consider his own work for use on UK coinage, against a background representation of a portrait of Charles II himself. The Banner is titled "The Great Engravers".

The Royal Mint has brought out a two-coin set which highlights the Petition Crown - which is one of the United Kingdom's most valuable and historic numismatic treasures. 

Created by Thomas Simon (1623-1665), the Coin known as the "Petition Crown" was designed as a direct response to the newly restored King Charles II to consider Simon’s own work for use on English coinage. 

Prior to the establishment of the English Commonwealth, Simon had been an apprentice at the Royal Mint from 1645. 

After the deposition of King Charles I in 1649, Simon was promoted to be Chief Engraver to the Royal Mint when he was commissioned to design and engrave the great seal of the Commonwealth as well as dies for the coinage of Oliver Cromwell — now titled as "Lord and Protector". 

Simon had hoped his work would come to the attention of the King and that further royal consideration would ensure that only Simon’s designs would be used for all future circulation-type coinage now that machine-made minting presses had been adopted universally for the production of British coinage. 

The "Petition Crown" had been the direct result of the rivalry between the Roettiers brothers and Thomas Simon, which resulted from a royal competition to design this new milled or machine-struck coinage

Unfortunately, and for reasons unknown at the time, Simon did not submit his trial design in time. 

Despite his efforts, Thomas Simon failed to persuade the King to adopt his work. As such, the "Petition Crown" was produced in only a very small quantity and was never formally issued, making it extremely rare. 

The Flemish engravers John and Joseph Roettiers won the competition by default, and their designs were used for coinage issued for circulation in 1662. 

It is believed that Simon struck fewer than 30 full coins from this pair of dies presumably at the Royal Mint’s premises at Tower Hill. 

Although accurate figures do not exist, there are perhaps fifteen silver Petition Crown coins and additional strikes in other metals such as pewter. 

Since the Petition pattern Crown was never formally issued, they are extremely rare and greatly sought after by collectors. 

The two-coin set offers collectors an opportunity to own a remastered edition of one of the rarest coins produced by the Royal Mint

The Coin:

Simon’s masterfully created Obverse features a right facing effigy of Charles II (as opposed to the left-facing effigy of Oliver Cromwell on British coinage). Charles's flowing hair crowned with a wreath of laurel leaves was depicted on this face. 

Just below the effigy of the King and in stylised lettering is the name of the engraver "SIMON". The inscription on the outer periphery reads "CAROLVS II. DEI. GRA" (meaning "Charles II. By the grace of God King").

The Reverse of the Gold and Silver Coins features four crowned cruciform shields of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France, with the "Order of the Garter" at the centre. 

Also featured are four interlinked designs of two C’s shown in each angle between the shields. 

Above the group of shields is the year "1663", separated by a crown above the shield representing England. 

The additional legend around the peripheral design reads "MAG BRI FR ET HIB REX·" (denoting Charles II was king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland). 

For the 2023-dated two-coin set, the Royal Mint’s engraving, design, and Master Tools team has ensured that Thomas Simon’s original design of the "Petition Crown" was authentically re-mastered, staying true to Simon’s idea and design. 

Combining traditional engraving and craftsmanship skills with modern minting technology, the petition crown was successfully re-mastered, requiring specialist tooling to recreate some of the intricate details that appear on the original coin design, such as the edge inscription

While the "Petition Crown" features a beautiful numismatic obverse and reverse design featured on the new Proof-quality coins, the edge inscription is skillfully recreated on the edge of each coin which highlights Simon’s extraordinary talent as an engraver. 

Featuring a direct appeal to Charles II, this unique raised edge inscription consists of 200 letters etched across two lines, which reads:  

"THOMAS SIMON MOST HVMBLY PRAYS YOVR MAJESTY TO COMPARE THIS HIS TRYALL PIECE WITH THE DVTCH AND IF MORE TRVLY DRAWN & EMBOSS’D MORE GRACE: FVLLY ORDER’D AND MORE ACCVRATELY ENGRAVEN TO RELEIVE HIM."

It not very certain exactly how Simon, during the 17th century, was able to produce the two lines.

Even with the benefit of modern minting technology, recreating the raised edge lettering proved challenging for the Royal Mint’s team of craftspeople, who relied on traditional engraving techniques combined with innovative laser technology to produce tooling that would achieve the same effect. 

The specifications of the various denominations from 5 to 5000 Pounds are:

Silver Coin Variants:

i) 5 Pounds (x 2 variants):

Country: United Kingdom (UK); Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Series theme:" Master Engravers Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Petition Crown"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 62.2 grams or 2.00 Oz; Diameter/Size: 40.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Mintage: 3,250 sets; Designer(s): Thomas Simon, the Obverses of both versions includes the effigy of King Charles III designed by sculptor Martin Jennings.

ii) 10 Pounds (x 2 variants):

Country: United Kingdom (UK); Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Series theme:" Master Engravers Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Petition Crown"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 156.3 grams or 5.00 Oz; Diameter/Size: 65.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Mintage: 500 sets; Designer(s): Thomas Simon, the Obverses of both versions includes the effigy of King Charles III designed by sculptor Martin Jennings.

iii) 10 Pounds (x 2 variants):

Country: United Kingdom (UK); Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Series theme:" Master Engravers Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Petition Crown"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 312.2 grams or 10.00 Oz; Diameter/Size: 65.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Mintage: 150 sets; Designer(s): Thomas Simon, the Obverses of both versions includes the effigy of King Charles III designed by sculptor Martin Jennings.

Gold Coin variants:

i) 200 Pounds (x 2 variants):

Country: United Kingdom (UK); Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Series theme:" Master Engravers Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Petition Crown"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 62.4 grams or 2.00 Oz; Diameter/Size: 40.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Mintage: 300 sets; Designer(s): Thomas Simon, the Obverses of both versions includes the effigy of King Charles III designed by sculptor Martin Jennings.

ii) 500 Pounds (x 2 variants):

Country: United Kingdom (UK); Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Series theme:" Master Engravers Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Petition Crown"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 156.3 grams or 5.00 Oz; Diameter/Size: 50.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Mintage: 125 sets; Designer(s): Thomas Simon, the Obverses of both versions includes the effigy of King Charles III designed by sculptor Martin Jennings.

iii)1,000 Pounds (x 2 variants):

Country: United Kingdom (UK); Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Series theme:" Master Engravers Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Petition Crown"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 1005.00 grams (One Kilo); Diameter/Size: 100.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Mintage: 6 sets; Designer(s): Thomas Simon, the Obverses of both versions includes the effigy of King Charles III designed by sculptor Martin Jennings.

iv)5,000 Pounds (x 2 variants):

Country: United Kingdom (UK); Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023; Coin Series theme:" Master Engravers Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Petition Crown"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 5015.00 grams (Five Kilos); Diameter/Size: 175.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Royal Mint, UK; Mintage: 6 sets; Designer(s): Thomas Simon, the Obverses of both versions includes the effigy of King Charles III designed by sculptor Martin Jennings.

Remarks:

- Each coin is housed in a specially designed capsule to easily view the raised edge inscription

- The Gold Coin Sets are presented in hardwood high-gloss cases with numbered Certificates of Authenticity (COA), while the Silver Coin Sets are housed in black polished cases and are also accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA). 

The Two-Coin sets - Gold and Silver in their Presentation Cases.


The Six-Coin sets - Gold and Silver in their Presentation Cases.









1) 200 Years of the Discovery of Antarctica, Estonia: A 2 Euro Commemorative Coin dedicated the the Bicentenary of the Discovery of Antarcticca by Admiral Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshausen on board the "Vostok": Coin issue date: 01/2020

2) Solomon Islands: 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's first Pacific "Voyage of Discovery" and charting of New Zealand and Australia's East Coast: Date of Coin issue: 2020















Links: Postage Stamps from the British Isles:

























37) Sherlock Holmes, United Kingdom: A set of six stamps issued by Royal Mail, UK featuring the characters of the modern version of a TV Serial "Sherlock" started in 2010 by the BBC, together with Cupro-nickel & Silver Medals minted by the Royal Mint, UK: Date of Stamp Set issue: 18.08.2020














53) Gibraltar Cryptocurrency Stamp: Stamp value 4 Pounds: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2021: (Pre-ordered accepted from 19.04.2021)

54) The Calf Of Man Nature Reserve", Isle of Man, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): 75th Anniversary" Celebrations (1946-2021): A set of ten Stamps issued by the Isle of Man Post (IOMP) commemorating the milestone of this Biosphere Island: (Also includes the EUROPA Stamp on "Endangered National Wildlife" theme designated by PostEurop for 2021): Date of Stamps issue: 12.04.2021

55) "The Who", United Kingdom: The iconic Rock Group features on the latest "British Music Legends" Collector Coin Series issues from the Royal Mint UK: Date of Coin Release: 24.05.2021

56) "Sark - Dark Sky Island", Guernsey, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): This "GuernseyTogether" Series of stamps by Guernsey Post features drawings made by Sark school-children: Date of stamp set issue: 19.08.2020

57) Surfing in Jersey, a British Crown Dependency (BCD): A set if six stamps issued by Jersey Post featuring contemporary photographs taken by Jersey photographers: Date of Stamp Set issie: 18.05.2021

58) Dennis and Gnasher, United Kingdom: 70th Anniversary (1951-2021): A set of sis Stamps issued by Royal Mail, UK, featuring the popular comic strip: Date of Stamp Set issue: 01.07.2021

59) The Palace of Westminster, United Kingdom: 10th Anniversary molestone (1870-2020): Royal Mail UK has issued a set of Ten Stamps featuring the iconic Palace: Date/Year of Coin issue: 30.07.2020

60) Industrial Revolutions, United Kingdom: Royal Mail, UK has brought out a set of stamps featuring the Industrial Revolutions: Date of Stamp Set issue: 12.08.2021

61) Frances Hodgson Burnett and "The Secret Garden", Alderney, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): A set of six postage stamps issued by Guernsey Post on behalf of Aldernay Islands: Date of Stamp set issue: 01.09.2021

62) "75th Anniversary of MENSA" (1946-2021", Isle of Man, A British  Crown Dependency (BCD): A set of six stamps issued by the Isle of Man Post (IOMP): Date of Stamp Set issue: 01.10.2021

63) Non-Value Indicator (NVI) Definitive Stamps, United Kingdom (UK): Date of Stamps issue: 01.02.2022

64) "Heart of the Forest", Guernsey , A British Crown Dependency (BCD): Guernsey Post has brought out the first part of a Stamp quartet which takes inspiration from the "Love Paper" Global Campaign: Date/Year of Stamp issue: 09.02.2022

65) Harvest of the Sea, Jersey, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): Jersey Post has issued a set of six stamps depicting six different sea foods: Date/Year of Stamp set issue: 17.02.2022
















Innovations in Science 50 Pence Coin Series:

Music Legends Coin Series:

1) "The Who", United Kingdom: The iconic Rock Group features on the latest "British Music Legends" Collector Coin Series issues from the Royal Mint UK: Date of Coin Release: 24.05.2021 

2) Music Giants III, QUEEN, UK: A comprehensive Coin and Stamps Combo issued by the Royal Mail UK in collaboration with the Queen Band and the Royal Mint, UK: Date of Coin & Stamp combo issue: 09.06.2020

3) "Rolling Stones", United Kingdom: "Music Legends Coin Series": Fifth Coin in the Series: Gold, Silver and Cupro-nickel Coins feature the timeless Rock Band: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2022

4) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: Two Commemorative Stamp sets (Presentation Sets) brought out by the Royal Mail, UK on 07.07.2016: 1) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: A set of six stamps issued, their most popular studio albums 2) Legendary Live Performances: A set of four stamps issued depicting four of their memorable tours

5) "Yellow Submarine", A song sung by the English Rock Band - "The Beatles" in 1966, Gibraltar: A 5 Pounds Silver Coin minted by the crown Mint features the iconic song sung by the legendary Rock Group: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2022

6) Iron Maiden (a Heavy Metal English Band), United Kingdom (UK): A set of eight stamps issued on the legendary Band by Royal Mail UK: Date of Stamp set issue: 12.01.2023

Links to "Great Engravers Coin Series":

1) "William Wyon", United Kingdom (UK): "Great Engravers Coin Series": First Coin in the Series features Wyon's Gothic Crown in Gold and Silver: Date/Year of Coin issue: 06.12.2021

2) "William Wyon", United Kingdom (UK): "Great Engravers Coin Series": Second Coin in the Series featuring the Obverse of Wyon's Gothic Crown in Gold and Silver: Date/Year of Coin issue: 02/2022 (with Date of issue marked as 2021)

3) "The Petition Crown", United Kingdom: "Master Engravers Coin Series": Thomas Simon's Crown Coin designed as a direct response to the newly restored King Charles II to consider his own work for use on English coinage: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023

The World of David Walliams Coin Series:





 Posts on the UK Coins and Stamps:

"Tales of the Earth Coin Series": The Second Dinosaurs Collector Coin Series:

i) Prehistoric Temnodontosaurus, United Kingdom: "Tales of the earth Coin Series": First coin in the "Second Dinosaurs Collector Coin Series" features on Gold, Silver & Cupro-nickel 50 Pence Coin Variants: Date/Year of Coin issue: 25.02.2021 Variants

Myths & Legends Coin Series:

1) "ROBIN HOOD", United Kingdom: "Myths and Legends Coin Series": First Coin in the Series: Silver 2 UKP (2 Pounds) and Gold 100 UKP(100 Pounds) Bullion Coins issued by the Royal Mint UK featuring the famed/legendary Outlaw: Year of Coin issue: 2021

2) The Legend of Robin Hood, United Kingdom: Royal Mail, UK has issued a set of ten postage stamps depicting the legend of Robin Hood: Date of Stamp Set issue: 13.04.2023

A Tribute to the Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022):

i) A Tribute to the Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) featuring "The Royal Cipher", British Antarctic Territory (BAT), "Proclamation", South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SG & SSI), "Double Portrait", Falkland Islands: Pobjoy Mint, UK has brought out a limited edition 3-Coin 50 Pence Set with Pearl Black Finish and Privy Mark: Year of Coin issue: 2022:

"The Queen's Beasts" Coin Series, UK issues:



"Tales of the Earth - Dinosauria" Coin Series, UK issues:

Links to some other interesting posts from the British Isles and British Overseas Territories/Dependencies:

Central Bank of Ireland issues:



3) Irish Myths & Legends: 1) The Children of Lir;2) Cu Chulain; 3) The Omniscient Salmon of Knowledge; 4) Werewolves of Ossory; 5) The Brown Bull of Cooley and Deirdre of the Sorrows: An Annual Mint Set from the Central Bank of Ireland, recreates/celebrates Irish Folk Tales (Issue date: 30.04.2018)




Bank of Ireland issues:


Northern Ireland Bank issues:

1) Northern Ireland Polymer Bank Issues: Danske Bank (10 Pounds Polymer Banknotes), Bank of Ireland (5 & 10 Pound Polymer Banknotes) to go into circulation in 2020/21






Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes): 

  
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote
Banknotes from Royal Bank of Scotland:


British Crown Dependencies/Overseas Territories:



3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey











22) "Medusa The Gorgon": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High relief Coin with antique Finish: Fourth Coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint UK on behalf of BIOT in 09/2018




27) Concorde, a Stamp set from Gibraltar, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): 50th Anniversary of the first Supersonic Passenger Carrying Airplane, jointly built by France and Great Britain: Stamp set issue date:  20.04.2019



30) Manannan, the First King of Isle of Man or Mann: A Silver 5 Pounds Coin brought out by the Isle of Man in collaboration with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich

‎31) 200th Anniversary of John Keats' "Odes to a ....", Alderney Island: A set of six Postage stamps issued by Guernsey Post which brings out stamps on behalf of Alderney Island - 1) Ode on a Grecian Urn,(48p) 2) Ode on Indolence (65p), 3) Ode on Melancholy (66p), 4) Ode to a Nightingale (80p), 5) Ode to Psyche (90p), 6) Ode to Autumn (98 p) : Stamp Set issue date: 24.07.2019‎32) Isle of Mann: Celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of the Birth of Herman Melville, the author of the classic Moby Dick: A six Stamp Set issued on 22.07.2019
































Gold Svereign Coins:
  



Silver Sovereign Coins:


British India Coinage:



3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage





5) The British Empire: A Case of Numismatic "Segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)



 British Coinage:


2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin
4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone





 Commemorative British Coinage:



3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his " Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

The Brixton Pound:

2 comments:

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