Ancient, British and World Coins, Tokens, Historical Medals and Banknotes

Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, Broad, 1658, by Thomas Simon, laureate bust of Protector left, reverse crowned shield, pax qvaeritvr bello around, grained edge (Lesson A2; N 2744; S 3225). Extremely fine, very attractive red tone, one of the finest known, superior to the Strauss example and as fine or finer than the example in the Sharps Pixley collection (£6000-7,000)

One of the most important gold coins in the English series, marking a profound break both with the traditional hammered coins of the past and the simple and rather austere earlier coins of the Commonwealth. Henfrey writing in the last century described the piece as “simple, yet very elegant”; stating “the high finish and delicacy of the workmanship worthy of the masterly hand of Simon who engraved the dies”. He went on to call the portrait “an excellent and spirited likeness.”

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