Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint
  • 5 Pounds 2023, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Charles III, Great Engravers Collection, The Petition Crown, Quartered Arms
  • 5 Pounds 2023, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Charles III, Great Engravers Collection, The Petition Crown, Quartered Arms
  • 5 Pounds 2023, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Charles III, Great Engravers Collection, The Petition Crown, Quartered Arms, Proof, 2 coin set
Description

Great Engravers Collection continues with a two-coin set celebrating Thomas Simon’s revered Petition Crown. Made more than 350 years ago, many consider this coin a numismatic marvel. It is the fifth coin in the Great Engravers series.

The Petition Crown was a pattern coin produced in 1663 by Thomas Simon, a celebrated English medallist and coin-designer. The coin was submitted directly by the artist to King Charles II as a personal 'petition' against the contemporary coins designed by the Flemish brothers John and Joseph Roettiers, and for the further Royal consideration that only Simon's designs be used for all future specie now that machine-made currency had been adopted universally for the production of British coinage.

The rivalry between the Roettiers brothers and Thomas Simon resulted from a Royal competition to design this new milled coinage. For unclear reasons, Simon did not submit his trial design in time, resulting in the Flemish engravers winning by default and their coinage being issued for circulation in 1662. However, Simon's desire to win back the King's affections resulted in the development of this trial piece the following year.

Obverse

Depicts King Charles III’s effigy, surrounded by the Latin inscription. Engraver's initials on the neck.

CHARLES III DEI GRATIA REX FIDEI DEFENSOR means King Charles III, by the Grace of God King, Defender of the Faith.

Engraver: Martin Jennings (MJ)

•CHARLES III•D•G•REX•F•D•5 POUNDS•2023
MJ

Reverse

Depicts a reverse of Thomas Simon’s Petition Crown with crowned cruciform shields of arms, representing England, Scotland, Ireland and France, with the order of the Garter at the centre and with interlinked C's in angles, divided date above and legend around.

MAGNAE BRITANNIAE FRANCIAE ET HIBERNIAE REX means King of Great Britain France and Ireland

The Order of the Garter (formally the Most Noble Order of the Garter) is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III in 1348 and regarded as the most prestigious British order of chivalry in England and the United Kingdom. The star, which is worn pinned to the left breast, was introduced in the 17th century by King Charles I and is a colourfully enamelled depiction of the heraldic shield of St. George's Cross, encircled by the Garter, which is itself encircled by an eight-point silver badge. Each point is depicted as a cluster of rays, with the four points of the cardinal directions longer than the intermediate ones.

Honi soit qui mal y pense is a French maxim used as the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter. It is translated as "May he be shamed who thinks badly of it".

Design: Thomas Simon

· MAG BRI · FR ET · HIB REX · 16 63
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE

Edge

Both coins in the set feature beautifully recreated raised edge lettering, with over 200 letters etched across two lines: Thomas Simon humbly prays Your Majesty to compare this, his trial piece, with the Dutch, and if more truly drawn and embossed, more gracefully ordered, and more accurately engraved, to relieve him.

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·

5 Pounds (Crown)

Two Ounce Silver Proof Coin

Great Engravers Collection
The Petition Crown, Quartered Arms

Subscribe series
KM#
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.999
Weight 62.86 g
Diameter 40 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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