Coin that helped a king put a spin on Civil War

A 400-YEAR-OLD coin that was printed as "political propaganda" during the English Civil War is being sold at auction.

- TOM BEVAN

> Andrew Stowe from Auctioneum with the rare 1643 Bristol Shilling

(Tom Wren/SWNS)

The 1643 Charles I Bristol shilling was only minted for a very brief period during the conflict and is one of only a handful known to still exist.

The coin is referred to as a "Declaration Coin", named after Charles' Wellington Declaration of 1642.

At this pivotal speech at Wellington, Shropshire, the King declared his commitment to defending "the Protestant religion, the laws of England, and the liberty of Parliament".

The declaration largely signalled Charles' intent to go to war with parliament and was one of the factors that started the English Civil War.

By way of spreading his message and to rally support, Charles I