Lot 3928
Great Britain. Pattern Broad, 1656. S.3225; Fr-273; KM-PN25. Oliver Cromwell. Obverse: Laureate head of Cromwell. Reverse: Crowned shield of the Protectorate. Brilliant mint state with a dusty tone and only the tiniest of surface marks, but more sharply struck than other specimens which have been offered in recent years. This is one of the most desirable of British coins and (along with its sibling Fifty Shillings piece) the most important British gold coin to bear the obverse portrait of a non-monarch! The coin is steeped in the history of the English Civil War, the execution of King Charles I and the (temporary) substitution of the Protectorate for the monarchy. The Protectorate was established on 16th December 1653 and the production of portrait coins was authorized in 1655.
Because of the very low mintage quantities and (resulting) extreme rarity of these pieces they are referred to as patterns, but there is nothing to suggest that these were not intended to circulate. The Gold Broads were machine made by Thomas Simon (1618-1665) in the presses of the Frenchman Pierre Bondeau. The current catalogue price is £25,000 (around $38,000) in XF. There is no price for higher grades. NGC graded Proof 62 (This is very conservatively graded in our opinion).
* Cromwell was an ordinary landowner who entered the political arena and rose to prominence with the English Civil War. He was born on 25th April 1599 in Huntingdom and married Elizabeth Bourchier in August 1620. They had nine children, seven of whom survived infancy. After the victory at Marston Moor his prestige was enormous and as the King and his supporters were defeated, Cromwell was eventually appointed Lord Protector.
Estimated Value $50,000 - 60,000.
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| Realized $60,375 |
