With the execution of Charles I in 1649, rule passed to the Commonwealth and later the Protectorate. However, the republic under Oliver Cromwell would prove short-lived. In 1660 the British monarchy was restored under the returning Charles II, exiled in mainland Europe since his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Two years later this crown was issued for circulation, one of the first examples of mill-striking as production moved away from traditional hammer-struck coins.

Crowns have a long history, being derived from a gold coin introduced by Henry VIII in 1526 to replace the Sovereign. The gold of that Sovereign was too soft, so hard-wearing ‘crown gold’ was introduced. This has been the standard of British gold coins ever since. In 1551 coins of the same size and weight, but made from silver, were brought in.

They adopted the name ‘crown’ from the gold version and became the sole carrier of that name after 1662. Silver was much more favoured because Charles II, short on money, sold Dunkirk back to France for five million livres. This caused a grand influx of silver into The Royal Mint to the point where there was no longer a need to produce gold crowns.