Tatty mug depicting Charles II that couple bought for £2 at flea market sells for £14,000

A chipped mug thought to be a 360-year-old souvenir for the coronation of Charles II has sold for £14,000 – after an eagle-eyed couple picked it up at a flea market for £2.

Although the coronation took place in 1661, the tin-glazed earthenware cup features the date of 1660, when Charles was restored to the throne following the death of Oliver Cromwell.

He is depicted wearing the new state crown that had to be made after Cromwell gave orders to break up the previous one following the execution of the new king’s father Charles I.

The mug, just four inches tall, was found at a street market in Buckinghamshire by an anonymous couple. 

A mug believed to be a souvenir for the 1661 coronation of Charles II has sold for £14,000

They paid for testing to find out if the mug really was 362 years old but the results were inconclusive. Nevertheless, when it went under the hammer at Claydon Auctioneers it was given a pre-sale estimate of £1,000 to £2,000.

Two telephone bidders drove the price up until the hammer fell at £12,000. With auction house fees, the total amount paid was £14,000.

Auctioneer Louise Gostelow said: ‘It was difficult to compare with a similar piece because there aren’t many that exist today. 

‘We had various people who came to view it before the sale and two telephone bidders really wanted it.

‘The vendors were very pleased with the price achieved.’