1670 Great Britain Silver Medal Charles II and Catherine PCGS SP-61

Struck in 1670 during the height of the Restoration, this silver medal celebrating King Charles II and Queen Catherine of Braganza stands as one of the most artistically distinguished British medallic issues of the Stuart era. Catalogued as Eimer-245 and Betts-44, it was produced to affirm the prestige of the royal couple whose union carried lasting political and cultural consequences for England. The obverse legend reads CAROLUS ET CATHARINA REX ET REGINA, a proud proclamation in the grand tradition of English medallic Latin.

The obverse presents conjoined busts of Charles II and Catherine facing right, both rendered in high relief with classically inspired Roman armor and richly worked drapery, the king wearing the long curled wig that became synonymous with his reign. Facial features and surface detail are sharply defined, reflecting the accomplished hand of a skilled engraver working at the peak of English medallic craft. The reverse carries a detailed globe centered on the western hemisphere, surrounded by the legend DIFFVSUS IN ORBE BRITANNVS 1670, a confident assertion of British reach across the known world, with attractive multicolored toning across the field.

PCGS has certified this medal SP-61, a designation reflecting a well-struck specimen with pleasing surfaces and the rich, deep chocolate-brown patina characteristic of aged Restoration-era silver. The contrasting iridescent toning on the reverse adds further visual interest and confirms the piece has been undisturbed for generations. Seventeenth-century British medals of this documentary importance, certified by PCGS and presenting with this quality of surface, are seldom encountered on the market. For those building a collection of Stuart-era medallic history or certified British numismatica, this piece represents a genuinely distinctive opportunity. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

For questions about this coin or to confirm availability and pricing, call us at 800-928-6468.