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Cromwell’s Portrait Coinage

Started by Deeman, January 02, 2023, 12:27:22 PM

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Deeman

Cromwell

Born into a family of East Anglian landowners in Huntington on 25 Apr 1599 Oliver Cromwell was first elected as the MP in his home town in 1628. But it was not until 1640, when Charles I recalled Parliament after an eleven-year gap and Cromwell was elected the member for Cambridge, that his serious involvement in Republican politics began.

The outbreak of the first English Civil War was between the Royalist supporters of Charles I who claimed that the king should have absolute power as his divine right and the Parliamentarians who favoured a constitutional monarchy and later the abolition of the monarchy and the House of Lords completely.

From the very beginning Cromwell was a committed member of the parliamentary army. He was swiftly promoted to second in command as lieutenant-general of the Eastern Association army, the Parliamentarian's largest and most effective regional army, followed by a further promotion to second-in-command of the newly formed main parliamentary army, the New Model Army in 1645.

When Civil War once again flared up in 1648 Cromwell's military successes meant that his political influence had greatly increased. December 1648 saw a split between those MPs who wished to continue to support the king and those such as Cromwell who felt that the only way to bring a halt to the civil wars was through Charles' trial and execution.

Following the king's execution in Jan 1649, the Commonwealth of England was introduced and lead by a Council of State, replacing the monarchy. The remaining MPs from the House of Commons ran the country (Rump Parliament). Cromwell led the English military campaigns to establish control of Ireland in 1649 and later Scotland in 1650. This resulted in the end of the Civil War with a Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester on 3 Sep 1651 and the introduction of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. Cromwell was appointment to Lord General, effectively commander-in-chief of the parliamentary armed forces in 1650.

In 1653 tensions within the House of Commons led to the abandonment of parliamentary sovereignty because of frustration caused by the MP's failure to introduce political, legal and social reforms. Cromwell was voted by the leaders of the army as head of state and he took the title Lord Protector of England. Rather than impose direct military rule, Cromwell and the army worked to establish a new civilian government.

His hope for political stability did not come and when a new Parliament was convened in Sep 1656, Cromwell was offered the throne. He declined the title of king, but his power was absolute. In 1656 his head appeared on coins for first time.

Deeman

Cromwell's Portrait Coinage

Pierre Blondeau, a well-known French medallist, was responsible for the final conversion of English coin production from traditional hammered technology to a mechanised process under Charles II. He was invited to London in 1649 to demonstrate his new mechanised coining process. Unfortunately, the English moneyers guild succeeded in blocking his efforts, claiming that coining using the traditional hand-hammered method was not only cheaper, but faster than Blondeau's machinery. In 1651 the Commonwealth invited Blondeau to produce trials for the new coinage. It was not until Oliver Cromwell, as Lord Protector, ordered the minting of coins bearing his portrait that Blondeau's machines were grudgingly accepted at the Mint.

In Sep 1656, Blondeau was commissioned to coin silver bullion in the amount of £2,000 sterling and a small amount of gold from designs by Thomas Simon. The final design of the bust was confirmed on 11 Dec 1656. Seven coins were contemplated: the broad (20/-), 10/- and 5/- gold pieces and silver denominations of the crown, halfcrown, shilling and sixpence. Dies for the gold 10/- and 5/- pieces were never prepared, although Simon did make a half-broad punch. Simon relieved the surface of his work by the frosting he introduced on the bust, the heraldic crosses and the inscription.

In the middle of 1657, coins dated 1656 were struck at Drury House in the Strand, a location deliberately chosen away from the Tower Mint for security purposes. These coins were the gold broad, a fifty-shilling 'prototype' piece and the silver halfcrown. The 50/- piece was struck from the normal broad dies but on a thick flan weighing 2½ times that of the broad.

A further series of coins was issued in 1658 from dies engraved in 1657 with a decision taken that the halfcrown dies needed to be more deeply engraved. However, the death of Cromwell in Sep 1658 apparently brought the coinage to a close and certainly prevented the issuance of the coins for general circulation. Production probably began very shortly before Cromwell's death and the coinage consisted of the crown, halfcrown, shilling and a very few sixpences.

Upon Cromwell's death, Blondeau went back to France. Soon after the Restoration he returned to England and, in 1662, was appointed engineer to the Mint in charge of converting the Royal Mint into a fully mechanised facility.

At various times during the 80 years after the last official coinage by Simon and Blondeau more varieties of Cromwell's coins were made. Thomas Simon died in Aug 1665. His bequest specified that his punches, dies and engraving tools were to be given to his nephew, William, if said nephew were likewise to become an engraver. If not, then they were to pass to Simon's son, Samuel. Apparently, William did not become an engraver and Samuel proved to be of insufficient calibre to warrant these items. Some Simon equipment reached the Low Countries. There, new dies were prepared using the Simon puncheons for the half-broad, crown, shilling and sixpence. These strikings are referred to as Dutch copies.

In 1700 Isaac Newton, Master of the Mint, purchased on behalf of the Mint the following: -

Puncheons, all by Simon:
Broad obverse, half broad obverse, crown obverse, crown reverse, halfcrown reverse, shilling obverse, shilling reverse, sixpence obverse, sixpence reverse.
Dies:
Dutch half-broad obverse, Dutch half-broad reverse 1658, Simon crown obverse (matrix), Simon crown reverse (matrix), Dutch shilling reverse (matrix), Dutch shilling obverse, Dutch shilling reverse, Dutch sixpence obverse, Dutch sixpence reverse.

A reappreciation for Cromwell's portrait coinage resurged in the 1730s when some of Simon's dies were sold in the Netherlands and crowns were struck. This spurred the preparation of new Dutch dies bearing Cromwell's portrait, some of which were sent back to the Royal Mint where the engraver John Tanner struck new half-broads, crowns, shillings and sixpences, distinguishable through the omission of '&c' and the stop before OLIVAR.

Copper portrait farthings were also struck bearing Cromwell's image. Records from the time are vague but David Ramage probably prepared the dies. They lack Thomas Simon's quality. Portrait farthings, all undated, were made from late 1657 into 1658, the dates of most Cromwell coinage. Four varieties were created, with slightly varying positioning of the portrait combined with reverses featuring three different designs and inscriptions.

Deeman

Gold and Silver Portrait Coins

All gold and silver denominations bearing Cromwell's portrait have a crowned shield and bear the same circumscription for the reverse design. The shield is plain on the 1656 broads and ornate thereafter.

The obverse depicts the laureate bust of Cromwell left, bare for gold denominations, draped for silver denominations, with a circumscription of 'Oliver, by the Grace of God, Republic of England, Scotland and Ireland etc, Protector'. The unabbreviated Latin version is 'Olivarius Dei Gratia Rei-Publicæ Angliæ Scotiæ et Hiberniæ et cetera Protectoris'. The reverse depicts a quartered shield with English and Scottish crosses, an Irish harp and an inescutcheon of Cromwell's Arms (lion rampant) in the centre, surmounted by the imperial crown of England, date above the crown, with a circumscription translating to 'Peace through War'.



Broad and Fifty Shillings

The broad and the 50/- piece were struck in 1656 from 0.916 fine (22ct) gold, 28.5mm diameter. The broad weighed 140 grains (9.07gms). The 50/- piece was struck from broad dies on a thick flan (Piedfort version) weighing 350 grains (22.7gms).

The broad had a grained edge, whereas the 50/- piece had an edge inscription of PROTECTOR LITERIS LITERÆ NVMMIS CORONA ET SALVS in relief, translating to 'A protector of the letters, the letters are a garland and a safeguard to the coinage'.



Simon 1656 dated gold broad and fifty shillings piece. (Image is of a 50/- piece.)
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB &c PRO, pellet stops.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops.





Simon 1656 dated silver broad with grained edge. Possibly a proof of the dies. Around five exist.
A silver broad by Simon on a thick flan, the only one known, with a plain edge resides at the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow.





1656 dated cast pewter and lead broads. Not considered contemporary with Simon. Actual provenance uncertain.

Deeman

Half-Broad

The half-broad (10/-) gold denomination, weight 4.67 grains, although normal for the Commonwealth coinage, was withdrawn from the Cromwell coinage after having been initially considered. Subsequent strikes were not contemporary with Cromwell. They appear in three series. The first defined as the Dutch strike with coins dated 1658. The second series was struck at the Royal Mint in 1738 on dies by Johann Sigismund Tanner, coins dating 1656. These coins were 24mm diameter. The third series was again struck by the Royal Mint in 1738 with Dutch obverse and Tanner reverse, coins dating 1656.





1658 dated gold half-broad, first series, Dutch strike. Plain or grained edge.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops, no '&c' after HIB, stop before OLIVAR.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops.





1658 dated copper half-broad, first series, Dutch strike. Plain edge.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops, no '&c' after HIB, stop before OLIVAR.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops.





1656 dated gold half-broad, second series, Tanner dies, Royal Mint strike 1738. Plain or grained edge.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB &c PRO, pellet stops.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops.





1656 dated gold half-broad third series, Dutch obverse, Tanner reverse, Royal Mint strike 1738. Plain edge.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops, no '&c' after HIB, stop before OLIVAR.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops.





1656 dated silver half-broad third series, Dutch obverse, Tanner reverse, Royal Mint strike 1738. Plain edge.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops. No '&c' after HIB, stop before OLIVAR.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops.

Deeman

Crown

The silver crown was struck in 1658, weight 30gms, 40mm diameter. It has an edge inscription of HAS NISI PERITVRVS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO in relief, translating to 'Let no one remove these (letters) from me under penalty of death', a prohibition against clipping the coin. This Simon crown is the only contemporary strike. There were two subsequent strikes dated 1658, the first of which is known as the Dutch copy and the second being struck at the Royal Mint in 1738 on dies by John Tanner. Two pieces of the Simon crown exist in gold.





Simon 1658/7 dated silver crown. After the early strikes, specimens exhibit die flaw across neck.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB &c PRO, pellet stops.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 9 vertical strings.





Simon 1658/7 dated silver gilt crown.





Simon 1658/7 dated cast pewter crown. Plain edge.





1658 dated silver crown, Dutch copy. Lettered edge.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB &c PRO, pellet stops, tip of wreath points to 'N' which is inverted and reversed putting a serif at bottom of right upright. (Tip of wreath points to the 'N' on Simon's 1658 halfcrowns, but the 'N' is normal.)
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 8 traverse strings.





1658 dated silver gilt crown, Dutch copy.





1658 dated silver crown, Tanner dies, Royal Mint strike 1738. Plain or lettered edge.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB &c PRO, pellet stops, tip of wreath points between 'A' and 'N'.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 8 vertical strings.

Deeman

Halfcrown

The silver halfcrown was struck in 1656 and 1658, weight 15gms, 34mm diameter. It has the same edge inscription as that of the crown - HAS NISI PERITVRVS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO in relief. The 1656 strikes differ from the 1658 pieces in reading 'HI' for 'HIB'. There are no imitations of this coin.





Simon 1656 dated silver halfcrown. Shallow engraving.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HI &c PRO, pellet stops, tip of wreath points between 'A' and 'N'.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 9 vertical strings.





Simon 1658 dated silver halfcrown.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB &c PRO, pellet stops, tip of wreath points to 'N'.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 7 vertical strings.





Simon 1658 dated gold halfcrown.

Deeman

Florin

The two-shilling piece is not contemporary with Cromwell. It was a strike by Tanner in 1738 (once thought to be Dutch). Somewhat underweight at between 9.9 and 10.6gms when it should weigh 12gms pro-rata. Same diameter as the halfcrown. Edge plain.



1658 dated silver florin, Tanner Royal Mint strike 1738.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops, no '&c' after HIB, no berries in wreath, tip of wreath between 'P' and 'A'.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 7 traverse strings.

Deeman

Shilling

The silver shilling was struck in 1658, weight 6gms, 28mm diameter, edge plain or grained with raised oval dots. This Simon shilling is the only contemporary strike. There was a subsequent strike by Tanner at the Royal Mint in 1738 (once thought to be Dutch). A Simon shilling exists in gold.





Simon 1658 dated silver shilling.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB &c PRO, pellet stops, no berries in wreath, tip of wreath points to first downstroke of 'A' in ANG.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 7 vertical strings.





Simon 1658 dated silver gilt shilling.





Simon 1658 dated silver shilling with swan punch mark below bust. The French used this symbol as a hallmark from 1893, struck on silverware of the legal standard of fineness, but unknown origin.





Simon 1658 dated silver shilling curiosity.
Obverse engraved: DAVID / GARRICK ARM in fields (David Garrick armiger), 1750 below truncation.
Reverse engraved HIST[RIO] EXCELLENTIOR / QUAM ROSCIUS in fields (an actor more excellent than Roscius), a reference to the Roman actor Quintus Roscius Gallus.

David Garrick was the famous Shakespearian thespian who became co-manager of Drury Lane Theatre in 1747. Thought to have been presented to Garrick after playing the lead character in his second production of the Romeo and Juliet tragedy.





Simon 1658 dated copper shilling.





Simon 1658 dated cast pewter shilling.





1658 dated silver shilling, Tanner Royal Mint strike 1738. Edge grained.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops, no '&c' after HIB, no berries in wreath, tip of wreath between 'P' and 'A'.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 7 traverse strings.

Deeman

Ninepence

The ninepence piece is not contemporary with Cromwell. It was a strike by Tanner in 1738 (once thought to be Dutch). Somewhat overweight at between 5.2 and 6gms when it should weigh 4.5gms pro-rata. Diameter 30mm, edge plain or milled. Cast copies were subsequently made with a Liberty cap below the bust and the value 'IX' flanking the shield, probably sponsored by the republican Thomas Hollis (1720-74) in the early 1760s.

The writer, free-thinker and philanthropist Thomas Hollis promoted civil rights in Britain and America. He lobbied for parliamentary reform and created an identity for the London Opposition, the most significant political force outside parliament from the 1750s to the 1770s. Hollis encouraged political activism by publishing books and pamphlets that promoted liberty. A key supporter of the American colonists, he corresponded with several of the 'Founding Fathers'. He represented their grievances to the British government and promoted their cause in the British press.





1658 dated silver ninepence, Tanner Royal Mint strike 1738.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops, no '&c' after HIB, no berries in wreath, tip of wreath points to the downstroke of 'P'.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 4 traverse strings.





1658 dated cast silver ninepence, copy of Tanner coin with Liberty cap added below bust and value 'IX' flanking the shield. Weight 5.35gms.
The Liberty cap was an emblem of political freedom in the Netherlands.





1658 dated cast silver ninepence, copy of Tanner coin with Liberty cap and anchor added below bust and value 'IX' flanking the shield. Weight 5.35gms.
The anchor became a key Christian symbol during the period of Roman persecution.

Deeman

Sixpence

The silver sixpence was struck in 1658, weight 3gms, 25mm diameter, grained edge. There was a subsequent strike by Tanner at the Royal Mint in 1738 (once thought to be Dutch), followed by cast copies of Tanner's coin probably sponsored by the republican Thomas Hollis (1720-74) in the early 1760s (refer to note under ninepence coins.





Simon 1658 dated silver sixpence. Only four are known.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops, 4 berries in wreath, tip of wreath points to first downstroke of 'A' in ANG.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 7 vertical strings.





1658 dated silver sixpence, Tanner Royal Mint strike 1738. Edge plain or grained.
Obverse inscription is OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO ET HIB PRO, pellet stops, no '&c' after HIB, no berries in wreath, tip of wreath points to the downstroke of 'P'.
Reverse inscription is PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, pellet stops, harp has 4 traverse strings.





1658 dated cast silver sixpence, copy of Tanner coin with Liberty cap added below bust. Weight 4gms.
The Liberty cap was an emblem of political freedom in the Netherlands.

Deeman

Copper Portrait Farthings

David Ramage's portrait farthings, all undated, made from late 1657 into 1658, the dates of most Cromwell coinage. Diameter 21-23mm. All bear the same obverse of a laureate and partially draped bust left with the circumscription OLIVAR PRO ENG SC IRL (Oliver, Protector of England, Scotland, Ireland), lozenge stops and cable pattern inner circle normally interrupted by bust.





Undated pattern copper farthing, electrotype copy probably by Robert Ready (1811-1903), curator at the British Museum. Original believed unique. Chain border both sides. Reverse depicts a three-masted ship sailing left with a circumscription, commencing with a mullet, of AND GOD DIRECT OVR CORSE (and God direct our course), lozenge stops, cable pattern inner circle.





Undated pattern copper farthing with reverse depicting a quartered shield with English and Scottish crosses, an Irish harp and an inescutcheon of Cromwell's Arms (lion rampant) in the centre, surmounted by the imperial crown of England with the circumscription CHARITIE AND CHANGE, lozenge stops, cable pattern inner circle.





Undated pattern farthing, shield reverse. Struck in copper and silver.
Inner circle totally encircles bust. Mullet commences inscriptions on obverse.





Undated pattern copper farthing with reverse depicting three pillars tied together typifying the three countries of England, Scotland, and Ireland. On the tops of the pillars are the emblems of each nation: cross (for England) on left, thistle (for Scotland) on right and harp (for Ireland) on the central pillar, initial 'R' below the central pillar. The circumscription, commencing with a mullet, is THVS VNITED INVINCIBLE, lozenge stops, cable pattern inner circle.





Undated pattern copper farthing, three pillars reverse.
Inner circle totally encircles bust. Mullet commences inscriptions on both sides, small on obverse, large on reverse.