Description
Commonwealth of England, Scotland & Ireland, the interregnum of 1649-1660 AD, Oliver Cromwell, as Lord Protector 1653-1659 AD, Silver Half Crown (15.01g, 34mm), 1658, Tower mint, London. Obverse: Laureate and draped bust of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell facing to the left, legend surrounds, “OLIVAR· D·G· RP· ANG· SCO· ET· HIB &c PRO”. Reverse: Coat of Arms of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland & Ireland, surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown (with additional elements from the Crown of Scotland), date above, legend surrounds, “PAX· QVÆRITVR· BELLO·”. Edge: Inscription in raised letters beginning with initial mark cross pattée, “HAS· NISI· PERITVRVS· MIHI· ADIMAT· NEMO·”. Bull-253; Spink-3227A; ESC-447. Very minor contact marks and poorly struck on the right arch of the crown, deeply toned with rich cabinet grey and evenly worn on the obverse, bold underlying brilliance on the reverse, good Very Fine, reverse near Extremely Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Olīvārius, Deī Grātiā, reīpūblicae Angliae, Scotiae, Hiberniae et cētera prōtēctor”, with an English translation of “Oliver, by the Grace of God, Protector of the Commonwealth/Republic of England, Scotland and Ireland and so on”. The reverse Latin legend reads “pāx quaeritur bellō”, with an English translation of “Peace is sought through fighting war”. The edge Latin legend reads “hās nisi peritūrus mihi adimat nēmō”, with an English meaning of “Let no man snatch away/steal these from me under penalty of death”.