When James VI of Scotland acceded to the English throne, the royal titles and coat of arms altered on the coinage. New coins were added including the gold Unite, the gold Laurel and the rose-ryal.

In Charles I’s early reign some outstanding machine-made coins were produced, but could not be struck at sufficient speed to supplement hand hammering.

During the Civil War the parliamentary government continued to strike coins with Charles I’s name on until his execution. Coins were struck at a number of towns to supply the Royalists. Among the more spectacular pieces are the ‘Declaration’ coins struck at Shrewsbury and Oxford and the emergency coins, made from odd-shaped pieces of silver plate during the sieges of Newark, Scarborough and Pontefract.

After Charles I death coins were struck during the Commonwealth with English inscriptions. The short-run coinage of Oliver Cromwell were machine made until the Restoration in 1660.

Early in Charles II reign milled coinage was introduced. New gold coins were struck and they became known as ‘Guineas’ as the gold was imported from Guinea by the African Company (whose emblem was the Elephant and Castle). Good regal copper coinage was also introduced for the first time.

The remainder of the Stuart’s reign saw little change to the coinage, except for the bust of the monarchs.

Our reproduction and replica Stuart coins include Crown, Shilling and Civil War Siege coinage.