$79,727.00 USD
The 1656 Gold "Broad" of Twenty Shillings featuring Oliver Cromwell was struck during the brief Commonwealth era (1649–1660) when Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector following the English Civil War. This coin represents a pivotal moment in English numismatic history:
· It was machine-milled rather than hammered, using advanced presses introduced by French engineer Pierre Blondeau, marking a technological revolution in British coinage
· The chief engraver, Thomas Simon, crafted an exquisite design that effectively imitated a royal coin despite Cromwell's refusal of the crown
· These pattern coins were struck in very limited numbers, but production ceased abruptly upon Cromwell's death in 1658, greatly enhancing their rarity
· It is "one of the most sought-after British gold types" due to both its inarguable rarity and the tumultuous historical moment it represents
Obverse: Features a laureate bust of Oliver Cromwell facing left, accompanied by the Latin legend OLIVAR·D·G·RP·ANG·SCO·ET·HIB & PRO·, which abbreviates “Oliver, by the Grace of God, Protector of the Republic of England, Scotland and Ireland, etc.”
Reverse: Displays a crowned, quartered shield combining the arms of England and Ireland. The Latin motto PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO (“Peace is sought through war”) surrounds the shield, with the date split as 16 – 56. The edge is grained, characteristic of the modern minting technology used.
The subject coin is certified PCGS PR55, indicating a proof striking that has survived in About Uncirculated (AU) condition:
· PR55 means the coin exhibits light wear on its high points but still retains considerable detail and some original luster
· This is an exceptional grade given the coin's age and the fate of most Cromwellian pieces
· Many known examples of the 1656 Broad show significant impairments – some were holed, bent, "plugged," or heavily worn by handling over the centuries
· It is "a great rarity in the world of English coins, especially when they are retained in such fine condition"
This combination of solid detail, proof striking, and absence of major flaws makes it enormously desirable. Collectors often pay multiples of the baseline value for such quality, since opportunities to acquire high-grade Cromwellian gold are extraordinarily rare.
S-3225; WR-39; 9.00g
