an image of a gold sovereign coin with a crown on it
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Estimate €300,000
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Description
GREAT BRITAIN Oliver Cromwell (1653–1658). 50-shilling broad, polished blank (PROOF) 1656, London. Obverse: OLIVAR. D. G. RP. ANG. SCO. ET HIB. & PRO. Laureate bust facing left. Rev. PAX. QVÆRITVR. BELLO. (date). A crowned shield bearing the arms of the Commonwealth, with the coat of arms of Oliver Cromwell: Quartered, in the 1st and 4th quarters, argent with a gules cross (England and Wales); in the 2nd quarter, azure with a silver saltire (Scotland); in the 3rd quarter, azure with a gold harp strung with silver (Ireland); and over all, sable with a silver lion (Cromwell). S.3224 – N.2743 – KM.Pn24 – W&R.38 – Fr.272; Gold – 29 mm – 6 h Top Pop: this is the only specimen graded PROOF CAMEO by NGC, and there is only one other specimen graded MS: MDC 11 lot 1291, graded AU 55 (€248,000). Also of note is a specimen from the Virgil Brand collection graded PCGS PR-63, which sold for £471,200 in January 2021, and a PCGS PR-62 specimen from the Bill Barber collection, sold at Stack’s Bowers Galleries on 14 August 2021, lot no. 51036 ($420,000 plus fees). NGC PF 62 CAMEO (5926816-001). Raised edge with two bands: + PROTECTOR. LITERIS. LITERÆ. NVMMIS. CORONA. ET. SALVS. Struck on a burnished (PROOF) blank, with a cameo effect (CAMEO) featuring matt reliefs, and the portrait further enhanced with a dotted relief, as well as the coats of arms within the shield on the reverse. Minimal hairline marks in the polished fields and minimal signs of handling. The original lustre is largely present and barely burnished in the fields. An exceptional and very rare variety, with only a dozen known examples. Superb in mint condition. Following the Civil War, which ended with the execution of Charles I, Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. Seven years later, trial strikes were produced featuring a portrait of Oliver Cromwell as king, wearing a laurel wreath and facing left, with the royal crown on the reverse, based on an engraving by Thomas Simon. The coin was struck on the mint press by Pierre Blondeau. The 50-shilling proofs or trial strikes were produced using the dies employed for the 20-shilling broad coin, but on a thick blank and at the correct weight (2.5 times that of the 20-shilling coin), with the edge lettering struck in relief using a double-ring machine England Oliver Cromwell (1653–1658) 50 Shilling Broad Gold Coin Proof 1656 London Obverse: ‘OLIVAR. D. G. RP. ANG. SCO. ET HIB. & PRO.’ Bust facing left with a laurel wreath Reverse: ‘PAX. QVÆRITVR. BELLO. (year).’ The coat of arms of the English Commonwealth, crowned, with Oliver Cromwell’s coat of arms at its centre: in the first and fourth quarters (top left and bottom right as viewed) of the quartered shield, a red cross on a silver field (England and Wales);the second quarter features a silver X-shaped cross on a blue field (Scotland), the third quarter features a golden harp with silver strings on a blue field (Ireland), and at the centre of the entire shield is a silver lion on a black field (Cromwell) S.3224 – N.2743 – KM.Pn24 – W&R.38 – Fr.272; Gold – 29 mm – 6 h. Top Pop: The only NGC-graded example as a Cameo Proof! Only one MS-graded specimen exists - NGC AU55 (€248,000), MDC Auction 11, lot 1291 - PCGS PR-63 (£471,200), The Virgil Brand Collection, January 2021 - PCGS PR-62, The Bill Barber collection, Stack’s Bowers Galleries (14 August 2021), lot no. 51036 ($420,000 + BP) NGC PF 62 CAMEO Lettered edge (raised) produced using two semi-circular dies, with the inscription ‘+ PROTECTOR. LITERIS. LITERÆ. NVMMIS. CORONA. ET. SALVS.” Cameo proof with a matt finish to the relief; additional dot engraving on the portrait and the shield coat of arms on the reverse; a small hairline andvery slight marks. Widespread mint lustre visible on the faintly brown-tinged field. An extremely rare masterpiece, of which only about 12 examples are known to exist. Superb condition – completely unused Following the English Civil War, which came to an end with the execution of Charles I, Oliver Cromwell became the first Lord Protector of the Republic of England. Seven years later, a trial coin featuring a portrait of Cromwell as King was produced.The design, featuring a left-facing bust surmounted by a laurel wreath on the obverse and a crown on the reverse, was the work of the engraver Thomas Simon. Pierre Blondot used a press to strike and complete the coin. The mould for the 50-shilling trial coin was taken from the 20-shilling broad coin.The round coin was thicker and heavier (2.5 times the weight of the 20-shilling coin), and was struck between two semi-circular dies, with the edge bearing a raised inscription. GREAT BRITAIN Oliver Cromwell (1653–1658). Gold broad of 50 shillings, proof strike (PROOF) 1656, London. Obv. OLIVAR. D. G. RP. ANG. SCO. ET HIB. & PRO. Laureated bust facing left. Rev. PAX. QVÆRITVR. BELLO. (date). Crowned shield bearing the arms of the Commonwealth, with the coat of arms of Oliver Cromwell: Quartered, 1st and 4th, silver with a red cross (England and Wales); 2nd, azure with a silver saltire (Scotland); in the third quarter, azure a golden harp strung with silver (Ireland); and overall, sable, a silver lion (Cromwell). S.3224 - N.2743 - KM.Pn24 - W&R.38 - Fr.272; Gold – 29 mm – 6 h. Top Pop: This is the only example graded PROOF CAMEO by NGC, and there is only one other example graded MS: MDC 11 auction lot no. 1291, graded AU 55 (€248,000). Also of note is a specimen from the Virgil Brand collection graded PCGS PR-63, which sold for £471,200 in January 2021, and a PCGS PR-62 specimen from the Bill Barber collection, sold at Stack’s Bowers Galleries on 14 August 2021, lot no. 51036 ($420,000 + fees) NGC PF 62 CAMEO. Raised edge with two bands: + PROTECTOR. LITERIS. LITERÆ. NVMMIS. CORONA. ET. SALVS. Struck on a burnished planchet (PROOF), with a cameo effect (CAMEO) featuring matt reliefs, and the portrait further enhanced with a dotted relief, as well as the coats of arms within the shield on the reverse. Minimal hairline scratches in the polished fields and minimal handling marks. The original lustre is largely intact and the fields are barely burnished. An exceptional and very rare variety, with only about a dozen known examples. About uncirculated to Mint State. After the Civil War ended with the execution of Charles I, Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. Seven years later, trial strikes were produced featuring a portrait of Oliver Cromwell as king, wearing a laurel wreath and facing left, with the royal crown on the reverse, based on an engraving by Thomas Simon. The coins were struck using a coin press operated by Pierre Blondeau. The 50-shilling patterns or trial strikes were produced using the dies used for the 20-shilling broad coin, but on a thicker blank and at the correct weight (2.5 times that of the 20-shilling coin), with the edge inscribed in relief using a double-section collar machine. * Pursuant to Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of 5 April 2022, which comes into force in national law on 1 January 2025, buyers from within the EU must pay 5.5 per cent VAT on the hammer price of this lot. * Pursuant to Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of 5 April 2022, which comes into force in national law on 1 January 2025, successful bidders from within the EU will also be required to pay 5.5% VAT on this lot https://d10dakqizeg4uw.cloudfront.net/VAE19/2119.mp4
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Auction time 10/15/2026 at 9:30 AM
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