Triton XXI, Lot: 1485. Estimate $20000. Sold for $25000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

COMMONWEALTH. Oliver Cromwell. Lord Protector, 1653-1658. Pattern AV Broad (28.5mm, 5h). Dies by Simon. Blondeau’s mint, Drury House, London. Dated 1656. OLIVAR · D · G · R · P · ANG · SCO · HIB · &c PRO ·, laureate and draped bust left / · PAX · QVÆRITVR · BELLO · 16 56, crowned coat-of-arms. Lessen A2; W&R 39; Schneider 367; North 2744; SCBC 3225. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 60. Light red toning in devices.

From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection.

In the summer 1656, after years of petitioning, Pierre Blondeau was authorized by Parliament to strike coins using his own milling machinery. In response he produced some of the most celebrated coins in the entire English series. Initially a small issue of gold Broads and silver Halfcrowns dated 1656 were struck using dies engraved by Thomas Simon. Bearing an imposing effigy of the Lord Protector, legends in Latin and in case of the Halfcrown, a lettered edge, the 1656 issue represented a radical departure from the puritanical simplicity of the coinage of the Commonwealth which had been crudely struck by hand. A much larger issue of silver followed dated 1658, the Crown, Halfcrown and Shilling of which are commonly available.