Civil war coins sell for £36,000

Rare coins dating back to the time of Oliver Cromwell and Charles I have fetched nearly £36,000 at auction.

The 15 gold and silver coins, minted in the 17th Century during the English Civil War, were built up by a Dorset collector as a financial investment.

They had been expected to sell for about £10,000 but went for more than three times as much - £35,933 - at Duke's auction house in Dorchester.

Amy Brenan, a valuer at Duke's, said they were "delighted" with the sale.

Siege piece

She said: "It is not often that such a super collection comes up for sale.

"Antique coins appear to be an up and coming and successful means of investment.

"Their age, coupled with the fact that the coins are in very fine condition, adds to their rarity."

Among the collection was a Unite 1643 Declaration issue gold coin which fetched £6,453.

During the civil war King Charles was driven out of London, and as he travelled around the country he minted a series of coins in different towns.

In order to satisfy the King's demand for coinage, silver plate and other items were hammered down to produce coins known as "siege pieces", which are also included in the collection.

A 1646 Newark half crown siege piece sold for £1,195 and a Pontefract 1648 siege piece shilling fetched £4,302.

A rare Oxford 1642 half-pound sold for £4,302, a 1642 Shrewsbury pound fetched £2,868 and a 1643 Oxford pound went under the hammer at £4,302.

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