Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 2 24 Sep 2019
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Oliver Cromwell (d.1658), silver Crown, 1658, 8 in date struck over 7, laureate and draped bust left, raised die flaw at mid-stage, legend and toothed border surrounding, OLIVAR. D.G.R.P. ANG. SCO. HIB &c PRO, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms of the Protectorate, date above, PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO, edge inscribed in raised letters, *.HAS. NISI. PERITVRVS. MIHI. ADIMAT. NEMO., weight 30.12g (N.2745; L&S 1; Bull 240; ESC 10; S.3226). Attractively toned, two tiny nicks in obverse field, a couple of other tiny marks on reverse, die flaw with contemporary adjustment, otherwise extremely fine.
The largest portrait coin of Oliver Cromwell is the magnificent silver Crown engraved by Thomas Simon. However, not long after striking commenced a crack started to emerge on the lower left side of the obverse die, progressing across the horizontal of the neck of Cromwell. This crack in the die manifests on the struck coins as a raised die flaw across the obverse, which would have been a major problem upon the freshly struck coins at the time. It is thought that many of the coins were worked upon with fine tooling to have the die flaw adjusted as much as possible, to then make them perhaps suitable for presentation. The inscription on the edge produced using the new technology of Pierre Blondeau and his castaing machine was a safeguard against the illegal practice of clipping, and was severe in its intent as the Latin translates as "Let no one remove these from me under penalty of death."
Provenance:
Ex Noble Investments plc, purchased 2004.
The largest portrait coin of Oliver Cromwell is the magnificent silver Crown engraved by Thomas Simon. However, not long after striking commenced a crack started to emerge on the lower left side of the obverse die, progressing across the horizontal of the neck of Cromwell. This crack in the die manifests on the struck coins as a raised die flaw across the obverse, which would have been a major problem upon the freshly struck coins at the time. It is thought that many of the coins were worked upon with fine tooling to have the die flaw adjusted as much as possible, to then make them perhaps suitable for presentation. The inscription on the edge produced using the new technology of Pierre Blondeau and his castaing machine was a safeguard against the illegal practice of clipping, and was severe in its intent as the Latin translates as "Let no one remove these from me under penalty of death."
Provenance:
Ex Noble Investments plc, purchased 2004.