Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 2 24 Sep 2019
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Commonwealth (1649-60), gold Crown of Five Shillings, 1651, 51 struck over 50 in turn struck over 49, English shield within laurel and palm branch, legends in English language, initial mark sun without stops either side, THE. COMMONWEALTH. OF. ENGLAND., rev. English and Irish shields, value .V. above, beaded circle and legend surrounding, date at top, GOD. WITH. VS., legend appears to be struck over a smaller version of itself, G of GOD over retrograde D (cf.Schneider 359; N.2719; S.3212). Attractively toned, with underlying brilliance, has been graded and slabbed by PCGS as MS62, very rare.
PCGS certification 788433.62/34511826.
This is the smallest gold coin of the Commonwealth, and this example demonstrates the two successive alterations of the date to 1651 from 1650, which itself had originated from an old 1649 die. All Commonwealth period hammered English coins have legends in plain English. It is interesting that at the start of the Commonwealth a new indenture had to be drawn up as Sir Robert Harley the master-worker refused to be involved with this coinage. A pyx trial was held at Harley's expense and a new indenture drawn up with Dr Aaron Guerdain MD which also allowed for fine gold denominations from the Sovereign down, as well as the 22 carat crown gold like we see with the Unites, Double Crowns and Crowns as offered herewith. It is thought that fine gold denominations were never struck!
Provenance:
Ex Thos H. Law Collection, Stacks Bowers Ponterio, Auction 176, 13th August 2013, lot 20188.
Ex Baldwins of St James, Auction 23, 28th September 2018, lot 2070.
PCGS certification 788433.62/34511826.
This is the smallest gold coin of the Commonwealth, and this example demonstrates the two successive alterations of the date to 1651 from 1650, which itself had originated from an old 1649 die. All Commonwealth period hammered English coins have legends in plain English. It is interesting that at the start of the Commonwealth a new indenture had to be drawn up as Sir Robert Harley the master-worker refused to be involved with this coinage. A pyx trial was held at Harley's expense and a new indenture drawn up with Dr Aaron Guerdain MD which also allowed for fine gold denominations from the Sovereign down, as well as the 22 carat crown gold like we see with the Unites, Double Crowns and Crowns as offered herewith. It is thought that fine gold denominations were never struck!
Provenance:
Ex Thos H. Law Collection, Stacks Bowers Ponterio, Auction 176, 13th August 2013, lot 20188.
Ex Baldwins of St James, Auction 23, 28th September 2018, lot 2070.