BRITISH COINS, Oliver Cromwell (died 1658), Gold Broad of Twenty-Shillings, 1656, laureate head left, legend and toothed border surrounding, OLIVAR D. G. R. P. ANG. SCO. ET HIB. &c PRO, rev inverted die axis, crowned quartered shield of arms of the Protectorate, date above, legend and toothed border surrounding, PAX. QVÆRITVR. BELLO., edge straight grained, 9.00g (Lessen A2; WR 39 R2; N 2744; S 3225). Brilliant, good very fine / about extremely fine, several light hairline marks in fields on both sides, wear to the high points of the hair.
ex St James's Auction 1, 13 October 2004, lot 478
According to an article "Warrants and Sketches of Thomas Simon" by D F Allen in the British Numismatic Journal Volume 23, 1940, The Warrant ordering Oliver Cromwell portrait coinage was dated 27 November 1656, and signed by Clerk of Council W Jessop. The order on vellum has Thomas Simon's name entered over an erasure of the name Blondeau, due to the fact that the coins were actually struck on Blondeau's machinery, but all engraving was by Thomas Simon.
In this warrant two coins are specifically ordered, the Gold Broad and the Silver Crown. The order has drawings of the Crown, interestingly with an armoured bust of Cromwell with laurel wreath inspired by the Dunbar medal; and the Gold Broad of 20-Shillings. Beaded circles are also drawn on the warrant to represent an intention for other denominations from Silver Halfcrown, Shilling, Sixpence to a Gold Half Broad and Gold Crown. Dies were made as a direct result of this warrant for the Gold Broad of 20-Shillings as we have offered here.
Estimate: £20,000-25,000