Baldwin & Sons
Auction 108 8 Nov 2022
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Commonwealth (1649-60), Unite of Twenty Shillings, 1650, mintmark sun on obverse, English shield within laurel and palm branch, legends in English language as opposed to Latin, reads THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND. Rev, conjoined English and Irish shields, value XX above for twenty shillings, all within inner beaded circle, legend surrounding, GOD WITH VS, date above, (S.3208; N.2715; Schneider 338). Rich lustrous gold toning both sides with mirrored fields, the cross hatching in the English shields apparent and full. Rev, some metal stress striations with an excellent Irish harp. Free from any major nicks or surface markings, some sporadic die breaks. Encapsulated and graded by NGC as AU58. Near extremely fine for issue, scarce.
NGC certification : 3743674-003.
Ex. St James's Auction 28, 24th June 2014, lot.
The Gold Unite of twenty shillings had been struck from 1649 until 1660, the first nine years of the type carried the mintmark Sun. The 1658 and 1660 issues were embossed with the anchor mintmark, during the protectorship of Richard Cromwell. Anchor mintmarks, irrespective of denomination or type are far rarer, and have always had significantly higher price tags attached to
them. They all were struck in 22ct Gold, with only one type and were the largest denomination Gold coin available throughout the Commonwealth period. Imposing and yet minimalistic coins, with the omission of any Royal portrait and the exchange of Latin for English in the legends they immediately stand out as an anomaly; nevertheless the Unites of the Commonwealth have been gradually gaining momentum at both auction and in dealers trays, especially in numismatic grades. There is a however a beauty to these coins, a straightforwardness found in their minimalist style. For the first two years after the Restoration the same denominations were struck [with the exception of the Silver Crown] in Charles II's hammered coinage as were issued during the Commonwealth. Immediately, all the heraldry, a complex crowned garnished oval reverse coat of arms, a monogram, Latin legends and most importantly a left facing royal bust were restored and re-introduced, with a crown mintmark no less. The horrors of the interregnum were ostensibly over, Charles II's hammered issues gave back a normalcy in the popular consciousness.
NGC certification : 3743674-003.
Ex. St James's Auction 28, 24th June 2014, lot.
The Gold Unite of twenty shillings had been struck from 1649 until 1660, the first nine years of the type carried the mintmark Sun. The 1658 and 1660 issues were embossed with the anchor mintmark, during the protectorship of Richard Cromwell. Anchor mintmarks, irrespective of denomination or type are far rarer, and have always had significantly higher price tags attached to
them. They all were struck in 22ct Gold, with only one type and were the largest denomination Gold coin available throughout the Commonwealth period. Imposing and yet minimalistic coins, with the omission of any Royal portrait and the exchange of Latin for English in the legends they immediately stand out as an anomaly; nevertheless the Unites of the Commonwealth have been gradually gaining momentum at both auction and in dealers trays, especially in numismatic grades. There is a however a beauty to these coins, a straightforwardness found in their minimalist style. For the first two years after the Restoration the same denominations were struck [with the exception of the Silver Crown] in Charles II's hammered coinage as were issued during the Commonwealth. Immediately, all the heraldry, a complex crowned garnished oval reverse coat of arms, a monogram, Latin legends and most importantly a left facing royal bust were restored and re-introduced, with a crown mintmark no less. The horrors of the interregnum were ostensibly over, Charles II's hammered issues gave back a normalcy in the popular consciousness.