Description
Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, Oliver Cromwell, as Lord Protector 1653-1658 AD, Silver Crown of five shillings, 1658/7, Tower mint, London. Obverse: Laureate and draped bust of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell facing to the left, legend surrounds, “OLIVAR· D·G· R·P· 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-240; Spink-3226. Certified and graded by NGC as Mint State 62. Awash with a pleasing display of original cabinet grey toning with a nice degree of underlying brilliance upon rotation, a few obverse field marks which is likely the reason for the grade – which it otherwise may have graded higher in terms of actual preserved detail – a splendid offering and certainly deserving addition to any serious British numismatic collection.
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”.
