Cromwell Pattern Half Broad

Triton XXI, Lot: 1487. Estimate $30000. Sold for $42500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

COMMONWEALTH. Oliver Cromwell. Lord Protector, 1653-1658. Pattern AV Half Broad (21.5mm, 6h). Dies by John S. Tanner. Tower (London) mint. Dated 1656 (though probably struck 1738). OLIVAR · D · G · R · P · ANG · SCO · HIB · &c PRO ·, laureate and draped bust left / · PAX · QVÆRITVR · BELLO · 16 56, crowned coat-of-arms. Edge: grained. Lessen C9; W&R 41; North p. 208, I. In NGC encapsulation graded PF 63 Cameo, of the highest rarity and with a peerless pedigree.

From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Michael Druck Collection (Stack’s Bowers & Ponterio, 12 January 2017), lot 2458 (hammer $45000); E. M. H. Norweb Collection (Part 2, Spink 48, 13 November 1985), lot 421, purchased from Spink, April 1964; H. K. Hepburn-Wright Collection (acquired by Spink); G. Blake Collection (Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin 456, May 1956), no. BL185; May Collection (Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin 433, June 1954), no. GM51; H. C. Brunning Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 18 March 1908), lot 9; R. M. Foster Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 3 November 1903), lot 125; H. Montagu Collection (Part III, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 13 November 1895), lot 715; W. Brice Collection (collection acquired en block by Montagu in 1887); E. Wigan Collection (acquired by Rollin & Feuardent in 1872); J. D. Cuff Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 8 June 1854), lot 1296; Lt.-Col. W. Durrant Collection (Sotheby & Wilkinson, 19 April 1847), lot 762; T. Thomas Collection (S. Leigh Sotheby, 23 February 1844), lot 815; S. Tyssen Collection (Leigh & Sotheby, 12 April 1802), lot 2265.

Lessen states only one other specimen with a grained edge is known, that in the BM