Petition Crown

When the Flanders family of engravers were summoned to England in 1662, it effectively spelled the end of Thomas Simon’s career engraving coinage tools. John, Joseph and Philip Roettier had become acquainted with Charles II during his time in exile and on arrival in England were ordered to prepare designs and trials for the new milled coinage. Simon was also instructed to prepare designs and trials, but it appears that he only got as far as initially producing drawings, quite probably owing to the pressure of other work he had on at that time. A distracted Simon gave the Roettiers an advantage, enabling them to submit trial pieces of their designs which were ultimately approved for production by the King.

Bitter at being side-lined, it was in this context that Simon produced his famous Petition crown with its extraordinary double-line edge inscription to showcase his skill and plead for the King to re-instate him to engrave tools for the coinage.