Commonwealth (1649-60), Gold Crown of five shillings, 1649. Variety without stops by mint mark or value, English shield within laurel and palm branch, legends in English language, initial mark sun, THE. COMMONWEALTH. OF. ENGLAND, rev. English and Irish shields, value V above, beaded circle and legend surrounding, date at top, legend surrounding.GOD. WITH. VS., weight 2.19g (cf. Schneider 357; N.2719; S.3212). With pleasing copper red tone, the first date for the denomination, has been graded by NGC as AU58 and is currently the joint highest graded example at both services, a rare date. Estimated Value $17,500
NGC Certification 5880621-006. We note at the time of writing that there are only two examples graded dated 1649 at both services. This is the smallest denomination gold coin of the Commonwealth, with all hammered coins of this period being the first British coins to have legends in plain English. The accounting periods of this time period were long and all the gold output is known only as a total over a 30 month period from 16th May 1649 until Christmas Day 1651, which amounted to £34,505.
Ex Spink Coin Auction, 26th June 2013, lot 666.