Great Britain: Cromwell gold Broad 1656,...

Description

Attractive Gold Broad of The Lord Protector

Cromwell gold Broad 1656, S3225, AU58 NGC, straight grained edge; nicely centered dies make for an appealing presentation, as do the sharp devices. Even light wear, ancient hairlines and tiny abrasions under the aged, attractive golden amber toning; faint die-rust, and therefore a late strike. The contemporary denomination was 20 Shillings (immediate predecessor of the Guinea), a lot of money in 1656, and so these were mainly the property of wealthy merchants and bankers. The mintage, however, was small, and only four years passed while these coins were the money of the land. When Oliver Cromwell passed away and the Commonwealth ended, it became dangerous to use and even own Oliver's coins, or anything showing his image, as the King's judiciary pursued traitors. Even though Charles II was greatly lenient towards the majority of Cromwell's former supporters, he did nevertheless conduct a flushing-out of his worst enemies, trying and executing a fair number of them. This prompted a quiet panic among the populace as a whole, who hid Cromwell's image even if they had been his supporters during his life. Some of his coins remained in use only as pocket mementoes, but it is clear that most of the coinage of the Commonwealth and of the Lord Protector was not preserved during the later 17th century. More precious pieces, such as this gold Broad, either went into deep hiding or served as "passes" among remaining anti-royalists. Most of the gold and silver issues of the former regime surely were melted and the specie re-coined, showing the new King's face. The gold Broad was rarely seen in 1656-1660, was seldom encountered during the Restoration, and is a prime Cromwell rarity for today's collectors.
From the Highlands Park Collection of British Coins.

More information about Great Britain Coins. See also: Great Britain World Coin Nationality.

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