1 Shilling - Charles II Pontefract siege coinage

Pontefract Castle held out as one of the last Royalist strongholds during the Second English Civil War, remaining under siege from Parliamentary forces through 1648 into 1649. With no access to the Royal Mint, the garrison produced its own emergency coinage from melted silver plate — a documented practice that gives these pieces their characteristic crude, lozenge or octagonal form. The dies were cut within the castle walls.

Charles I was executed in January 1649 while the siege was still ongoing. Subsequent Pontefract issues were struck in the name of Charles II — making this among the very first coins to acknowledge his kingship, weeks before most of England knew he would claim the throne.