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One of the more fascinating areas of Coin Collecting is the issue of obsidional coins during the English Civil Wars, often referred to as ‘Siege Coins’ or ‘emergency money’. Towards the end of these wars a number of Royalist fortified towns were cut off and besieged, some for many months. Money was needed to pay the day-to-day transactions of the garrison plus vitally important, to keep the defending troops paid thus cementing their allegiance and discouraging any desertion or even defection. Isolated from the main Royalist forces, coins were in limited supply and therefore any silver such as church plate, flagons, private flatware or whatever they could lay their hands on, was turned into coin. Lacking any sophisticated minting tools this silver was crudely hammered out into lozenge, octagonal and circular flans and struck with simply engraved dies stating the name of the town, the denomination and the date. Also, with the letters OBS, standing for the Latin word obsessum (besieged) or perhaps obsidio (siege). It did not matter that the coins were simple or even crude (and some even bear traces the original decoration of the items from which they were made) – what mattered was that the various denominations weighed the correct amount, for this was a bullion coinage.
"Obsidional coins are a fascinating and tangible connection to the mayhem and horror of this very troubled time in English history."
- Richard Gladdle, British Coin Specialist
The upcoming SGB Auction, The Frank Waley Collection of Hammered Silver and Milled Gold (11th December) boasts some outstanding examples from the English Civil Wars.
The English Civil Wars (1642-1651) were a series of armed conflicts between the Royalists, who supported the absolute rule of King Charles I, and the Parliamentarians, who sought to curb his power and establish a constitutional monarchy. By 1645, the war had reached a critical point, with the Parliamentarians gaining ground, thanks in large part to the disciplined and well-organised New Model Army led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. This phase of the war saw a series of intense battles, sieges, and political intrigue, as both sides vied for control over England’s future. Many key strongholds came under siege, including Carlisle, Pontefract, and Newark, as the conflict engulfed towns and castles across the nation.
The Siege of Carlisle
Carlisle was the principle Royalist stronghold in Northern England but after the catastrophic Royalist defeat at Marston Moor in Yorkshire, Leslie and his Scottish Covenanters made good their advantage and marched north and surrounded this power base.
The Royalist garrison under Sir Thomas Glenham tenaciously defended the fortress for eight long months, despite mounting shortages of food and supplies. Conditions inside the castle deteriorated rapidly; starvation became rampant, with limited provisions stretched to their breaking point. By the time the siege concluded in June 1645, the defenders, weakened but still resolute, negotiated honourable terms of surrender. They were permitted to march away with their weapons to join their King.
Struck in 1645, lot 91, a Charles I Shilling minted during the Siege is a particularly fine and rare example.
The Sieges of Pontefract
Pontefract Castle was one of the most important and heavily fortified Royalist strongholds during the English Civil War, facing several sieges including a notably ferocious bombardment, commencing at Christmas in 1644 and lasting until January 28th 1645. It faced four powerful cannon that pounded the ancient walls of the fortress relentlessly, Nathan Drake's diary, composed at the time suggests in excess of 1400 shots were fired, causing significant structural damage to the Piper Tower next to the keep.
Parliament garrisoned the castle until June 1648 when Royalists sneaked into the castle and took control. A few months later Cromwell himself took charge of the final siege in November 1648, Charles I was executed a few months later in January 1649, and shortly after Pontefract's garrison came to an agreement and Colonel Morrice handed over the castle to Major General John Lambert on 24 March 1649.
It was during this final siege that Lot 95, was minted, it depicts the Castle, once described as "no less goodly to the eye than safe for the defence" by topographer William Camden. As well as a P and C on either side, on the right, a cannon protrudes, denoting their active defence at the time. Although the coin is struck in the name of Charles, it is, in fact, for Charles II and not Charles I, as by this date, Charles I was dead and technically, his son was king.
Two years later, after the Royalist defeat at Worcester, Charles II was on the run and while fleeing the battlefield with the roundheads in hot pursuit, hid in a large pollarded Oak Tree at Boscobol. A passing patrol walked below but didn’t see him. Charles later got to Bristol and away to France but some twenty years later, after the Restitution, the ‘Royal Oak became a very popular pub name – in recognition of the tree’s service to its king!
The Siege of Newark
Newark-on-Trent, known as the “Faithful Fortress” for its unwavering loyalty to King Charles I, played a crucial role during the English Civil War. Its strategic location at the crossroads of major routes made it a critical Royalist stronghold. Newark endured three separate sieges between 1643 and 1646, with the final siege being particularly gruelling. By 1645, the town was surrounded by a formidable coalition of Parliamentarian and Scottish forces. The defenders, under the command of Sir Richard Byron and other loyalists, faced relentless pressure as their enemies tightened the noose around the beleaguered town.
As the siege dragged on, Newark’s inhabitants suffered horribly. Food shortages became severe, forcing the defenders to resort to desperate measures to survive; horses and dogs were slaughtered for sustenance. Disease soon followed, spreading rapidly through the cramped and unsanitary conditions within the town. Starvation, malnutrition, and outbreaks of plague claimed the lives of hundreds. It is estimated that at least 1,000 people perished during the final siege, either from disease or as casualties of war. Despite their suffering, Newark's defenders remained fiercely loyal to the Royalist cause until King Charles himself ordered their surrender in May 1646, ending the town’s agony.
Lots 92, 93 and 94, struck between 1945-46 sit at the cruder end of the siege coinage spectrum. Even in comparison to the Pontefract example they are roughly cut into the shape of a diamond and far less intricate than coinage minted away from the pressures of war, although it should be noted in the case of that the half-crown and shilling, they remain incredibly are particularly well-struck. The halfcrown even has a bit of original decoration from the plate it was made from – the line going up the right-hand corner on the obv. is probably the edge of a plate – the rim.
The Aftermath of the English Civil War
The English Civil War had a profound and lasting impact on the nation. The defeat of the Royalists and the subsequent execution of King Charles I in 1649 sent shockwaves throughout Europe. England was declared a republic, known as the Commonwealth, and Oliver Cromwell rose to power as Lord Protector. Although the monarchy would later be restored in 1660 with Charles II’s return, the scars left by the conflict ran deep.
The war also prompted significant changes in English society, governance, and military structure. Parliaments gained a greater voice in governance, and the concept of absolute monarchy was forever weakened. For many, the conflict was a period of great suffering, but it also laid the groundwork for political reforms and more representative forms of government.
For more information on the lots, visit www.sgbaldwins.com or register for the auction here
