1631/1632 King Charles I undated silver Penny, Briot's first...

Hammer

£130

1631/1632 King Charles I undated silver Penny, Briot's first milled issue (S 2857, North 2303). Obverse: crowned bust of Charles I, facing left with 'I' numeral behind for the denomination. The legend reads 'CAR · D: G · MAG · BRIT · FR · E · HIB'. Reverse: shield of arms quartered by a cross fourchée, 'IVSTIT IA · THR ONVM FIRMA'. Weight: 0.44g. Diameter: 14mm.Nicholas Briot (c1579-1646) was an engraver and mechanical engineer from a family of notable medallists. He worked initially for the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) where he promoted the concept of coining money with a press, rather than the traditional hammer-driven method.Briot was able to put these ideas into practice in England where he fled in 1625, pursued by his creditors. Following a run of milled coronation medals for King Charles I, Briot produced a number of machine-made gold and silver coins in 1631, issued concurrently with hammered pieces but of a much higher quality. A further issue was made between 1637 and 1639, this time just in silver.Like previous English experiments with milled coinage, including Eloye Mestrelle's work during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Briot's methods were not adopted by the Royal Mint's moneyers who viewed machinery as a threat to their livelihoods. Further tests of milled money were made during the late Commonwealth period before a wholesale implementation during the reign of King Charles II.