Antiques collector, 58, believes he’s discovered King Charles II’s sword in a ‘job lot’ of artefacts

A collector claims to have discovered a sword that belonged to King Charles II after seeing the priceless piece of British history in an artifact ‘job’.

Andrew Green, 58, said his excitement was sparked by the terrifying saber when he spotted it last year among a ‘bundle of pieces’ he bought from a dealer in Plymouth.

He said tests and research have confirmed it actually belonged to Charles II, who ruled Scotland from 1649 to 1651 after his father Charles I was executed at the end of the English Civil War – and later ruled England, Scotland and Ireland from 1660 to 1685 when the monarchy was restored.

The former Asda worker said the sword was later passed on to his illegitimate son, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, who led a failed rebellion against James II in 1685.

And it had been recovered at the Battle of Sedgemoor on July 6 of the same year, where the Duke was captured and later executed after his loss.

Mr Green said tests and research have confirmed it did indeed belong to Charles II (portrait circa 1683), who ruled Scotland from 1649 to 1651 after his father Charles I was executed at the end of the English Civil War – and later ruled England, Scotland and Ireland from 1660 to 1685 when the monarchy was restored

Mr Green said the sword had turned up centuries later, having been sold to a collector in 1903 for just 18 pence and briefly exhibited.

And he believes further analysis may now reveal that the sword has ties to King Charles I and Louis XIV of France.

He said: ‘It’s fantastic to have something of such significance. It’s an incredibly rare sword – the only one on the planet.

“I had to get it scientifically tested and the sword authenticated, and there’s a symbol of the blade that even links it to Louis XIV.

“The sword has a lot of historical value and that’s the most important thing. That’s where the value lies – the history and the provenance.’

Mr Green, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said he had seen the sword among several historical items he had picked up from a dealer in Plymouth, Cornwall.

An inscription on the box mentioned the weapon ‘The Monmouth Sword’ and describes how it was given to James Scott by his father, Charles II.

Mr. Green was immediately intrigued by the weapon, and his research revealed that it had been exhibited by Victorians and was recorded in 1844 in The Archaeological Journal.

But he claims its history goes back much further and believes it belonged to Charles I, who was beheaded by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War.

Mr Green says the sword (close-up of the hilt) could have passed from Charles I to Charles II

“It’s fantastic to have something of such significance. It’s an incredibly rare sword – the only one on the planet,” Mr Green said

An inscription on the box mentioned the weapon ‘The Monmouth Sword’ and describes how it was given to James Scott by his father, Charles II

He said: ‘It is possible that it passed from Charles I to Charles II, but we are 100 per cent sure that it passed from Charles II to the Duke of Monmouth.

‘There is no doubt about this in our research. The Duke lost it when he fled the Battle of Sedgemoor after attempting to overthrow James II.

“It was bought for 18 pence during Victoria Times, and information was published about it.

“Pieces are often forgotten, and you can find items that have been in collections for years, which are pretty important these days.”

He added, “It would have been wonderful in its day.

“It would have been coated with silver on the guard. But that would have been appreciated if it fell into the hands of ordinary people.’

He said he would now like to see it in a museum so the nationally important artifact can be examined by the public.