© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
½ Crown - Oliver Cromwell
| Silver | 15 g | 33 mm |
| Issuer | England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Lord | Oliver Cromwell (1653-1658) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1656-1658 |
| Value | ½ Crown (⅛) |
| Currency | Pound sterling (1158-1970) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 15 g |
| Diameter | 33 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-08 |
| Numista | N#16841 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 91% |
Reverse
Crowned shield of arms below date, legend around
Script: Latin
Lettering: PAX·QVÆRITVR·BELLO 16 56
Translation: Peace is sought by war
Engraver: Thomas Simon
Comment
The Cromwell issues are technically classed as patterns since they were neither tested in the Trial of the Pyx nor were they mentioned in the proclamation for the withdrawal of the coinage of the Commonwealth in 1661. However, they are listed along with the regular coinage since that is how they appear in both Spink and Krause.There were two production runs by Pierre Blondeau using dies made by Thomas Simon:
Sp#3227 (1656) - The earlier, scarcer issue featured the legend HI for Ireland (Hibernia);
Sp#3227A (1658)- The later, more numerous issue featured the legend HIB for Ireland.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Oliver Cromwell ½ Crown coin is that it was minted during a time of great change and upheaval in England. Cromwell, who was Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 to 1658, introduced a new coinage system that replaced the traditional silver and gold coins with copper and tin coins. This was done to address the shortage of precious metals and to make coinage more accessible to the general population. The ½ Crown coin, which was minted in 1656 and 1657, was part of this new system and features a portrait of Cromwell on one side and a depiction of a crown on the other. Despite the changes introduced by Cromwell, the coin still maintained its value and was widely used throughout the Commonwealth.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1658 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for ½ Crown - Oliver Cromwell 1656-1658 coin.
