Lot 2176
Great Britain. Broad, or 20 shillings gold, 1656. Oliver Cromwell. S-3225. Fr-273. WR-39. Reeded edge. Designed by Thomas Simon. Reverse features a finely engraved Shield of the Protectorate. A fascinating denomination which looks both backwards in time to its origin (same value as the gold Pound of Elizabeth) and forward to the coming centuries (for it is in effect the very first Guinea, though technically valued at one shilling less). Its appearance introduced a new style of gold coin to England, a gorgeously engraved, smartly minted, fully round and technically superb presentation of wealth. Cromwell never allowed himself to be called or crowned King, and his coins broke with an ancient tradition of having each monarch look in a direction opposite to that shown on the previous ruler's coinage. Charles I was always shown looking left. Cromwell faced the same direction. It was a subtle defiance but also a way of saying he was not a king. However, his portrait was certainly regal, and in fact he looks more a Roman emperor than a "mere" English king. His Gold Broad is one of his rarest coins, surely his most impressive in gold. It rates R2 overall, Very Rare, but that is merely Wilson & Rasmussen's summary of the coin as a type. Truth be told, most are not very attractive, most show a fair bit of abuse (scratches, marks, cleaning), some of it probably intentional after Cromwell fell from glory. This delightful specimen is such a happy example! It's highly prooflike, gleaming with luster and virtually as made, and is adorned by a most fetching old-gold reddish toning in its lettering. Few others can compare to this excellent specimen, one of the finest known. Only the Terner #1 specimen was finer, in the cataloguer's experience. NGC graded MS-64.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,500.
The Cheshire Collection.
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| Realized $27,600 |
