English Civil War Siege Tokens from Nottinghamshire Auctioned for £9,800

At an auction, three uncommon tokens, which served as currency in Nottinghamshire during the English Civil War, were sold for almost £10,000. Newark on Trent, a town controlled by King Charles I’s loyalist forces, endured three sieges from 1643 to 1646, with the last siege extending for half a year. Isolated, the residents created their own money, initially termed obsidional coins (from the Latin for besieged), though commonly referred to as “siege coins”. Owing to their exceptional condition and general scarcity, the trio of lozenge-shaped tokens significantly surpassed their projected value of £6,000, ultimately selling for a combined £9,800. Despite Newark’s robust fortifications, its inhabitants were not shielded from famine and disease. These siege coins served both to acquire supplies and to compensate the soldiers defending the town. According to ancient coin specialist Dominic Chorney: “The royalists were forced to confiscate silver plate from the townsfolk and churches, quickly cut it into simple shapes and strike them with the King’s crown and initials (C – R for Charles Rex). The town’s name was featured on the reverse. “We have a sixpence, a shilling (12 pence) and a halfcrown (30 pence), all from Newark. “So essentially, these were emergency coins minted under the toughest of conditions, during one of the most difficult periods of English history. “They’re collectable because of their unusual appearance and their rarity.” Newark ultimately capitulated on 8 May 1646, following directives from King Charles, who had been apprehended forty-eight hours prior. Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s auctioneers presented the coins as distinct lots on Wednesday.