A historic coin pressed in Oxford is up for auction next month and is expected to sell for thousands of pounds.

The rare item is an Oxford half pound which dates back to 1643 when it was created in the city’s mint.

It depicts King Charles I on horseback, crowned and in full armour raising a sword while on the reverse is the abbreviated form of Charles’s oath made at Wellington in September 1642.

This is when he declared that he would protect the Protestant Religion, the Laws of England and the Liberty of Parliament.

Oxford enters the story in 1642 after Charles I lost control of London during the Civil War and moved to the city in November.

He took over Christ Church College as his Royal residence and billeted his soldiers throughout the city.

The university was supportive of the Royalist cause and donated its silverware to Charles and the king had set his mint up in December.

This was at New Inn Hall, the present site of St Peter’s College, and was stocked with a considerable amount of silver from Oxford and Cambridge colleges.

Covering Charles’ need for coinage in his war effort, the Oxford Mint was a hugely successful enterprise.

Experts estimate the coin to reach between £4,000 and 6,000 and have even suggested that it may even fetch more.

The special and valuable coin will be going under the hammer at Baldwin’s Auction House in London at 10am on Thursday, March 7.