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CROMWELL 1658 HALFCROWN
2699 Great Britain. Halfcrown, 1658. S.3227A; ESC-447. Oli-
ver Cromwell. Obverse, laureate and draped bust left: OLI-
VAR D G P ANG SCO ET HIB & PRO. Reverse, crowned
quartered shield of arms of the Protectorate, PAX
QVAERITVR BELLO (Peace is sought by War). Edge
inscribed in raised letters. Crisply produced and with a
notable absence of marks, spots or other blemishes. Nearly
mint state with an attractive pastel blue tone. NGC graded
AU-58.
*After the execution of Charles I in early 1649 there fol-
lowed ' The Commonwealth of England'. Eventually, in
December 1653, Oliver Cromwell established the ' Protec-
torate', and in 1655 work on the production of coins featur-
ing Cromwell' s portrait was authorised. It is often said that
these coins were patterns or prototypes, but we have no
reason to believe that these pieces were not intended for
circulation. The coins were made by machines, of a high
quality, and produced by Thomas Simon' s dies, in the coin-
ing presses of Pierre Blondeau.
Cromwell died in September 1658 and was succeeded (as
Lord Protector) by his son Richard Cromwell. Richard was
ill-suited to the task of governing England and soon disap-
peared from public life. There were no coins struck for
Richard, and relatively few for his father. The Cromwellian
portrait coins are among the most avidly collected items in
the British numismatic series.
Estimated Value ........................................ $7,000 - 7,500
CROMWELL 1658 SHILLING
2700 Great Britain. Shilling, 1658. S.3228; ESC-1005. Oliver
Cromwell. Obverse, draped bust of Lord Protector. Reverse
crowned shield of arms: PAX QAERIYVR BELLO 1658.
Choice uncirculated with a delightful grey and blue antique
tone over prooflike reflective surfaces. Crisply struck with
no evidence of wear. An outstanding example of this iconic
coin. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value ........................................ $6,000 - 6,500
2701 Great Britain. Penny, ND. S.3389. Charles II. Undated milled
type. Obverse, crowned bust of king left. Reverse, shield of
arms. Pleasant blue and grey toning. NGC graded MS-62.
Estimated Value ................................................... $130 - 160
2702 Great Britain. Pattern Silver Farthing, 1665. Peck-407.
Charles II. Short hair and grained edge. Obverse portrait of King
Charles II left, CAROLVS A CAROLO 1665. Reverse: Seated Bri-
tannia QVATTVOR MARIA VINDICO. Well struck and uncircu-
lated with a deep blue and grey toning over mirror-like fields.
Very scarce. As nice as the Colin Cooke collection specimen
which was acquired from the Archbishop Sharp sale. PCGS
graded Proof 62 .
* Peck points out that the dies were made by John Roettier. The
figure of Britannia was one of her first appearances on post-
Roman coins and was almost certainly inspired by or even cop-
ied from the allegorical figure symbolising the Province of Brit-
ain which appears on the sestertii of Antoninus Pius. Britannia
in this instance may have been modelled on Frances Stewart,
later Duchess of Richmond. The rather pretentious reverse leg-
end reads ' I claim the four seas.' The king had a great interest
in the British navy and this may have been a reflection of his
naval preoccupation!
Many of these attractive patterns do appear in worn state
(probably because some were circulated alongside the eventual
currency coins) and this is why selected specimens are nowa-
days truly rare.
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,400 - 1,600
2703 Great Britain. Crown, 1667. S.3357; ESC-35; Dav-3775. By
John Roettier. Second draped bust right. CAROLVS II DEI GRA-
TIA. Reverse crowned cruciform shields, MAG BR FRA ET HIB
REX. Edge reads DECIMO NONO in raised letters. A certain
weakness of striking, as is usual for the issue, but this coin is
nicely detailed with a pleasant grey and green toning. A scarce
date, struck one year after the Great Fire of London. Lightly
rubbed. Very rare in the higher grades. NGC graded About
Uncirculated, Details (Surface Hairlines).
Estimated Value ..............................................$2,100 - 2,300