Draped bust left / Crowned shield

S3228; 27mm, 6.01g

High grade and wonderfully toned, a premium coin.

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Indirectly descended from Henry VIII chief minister Thomas Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell was born in AD 1599 to a landowning family from Huntingdon. He entered Parliament in AD 1628 and initially he did not oppose King Charles although he was leading campaigner against the king’s bishops and their lack of religious toleration. When the Civil War started Cromwell’s ability as a leader and organiser led to his rapid promotion with the creation of the New Model army which became known as Roundheads by their opponents. This army started to triumph over the king’s forces after several lacklustre campaigns at the start of the campaign. By keeping control of London and the main sources of finance the Royalist forces were eventually forced to sue for peace.
King Charles though managed to escape and tried to reclaim his kingdom by raising fresh forces in Scotland. Defeated again he was brought back to London where he was tried and executed in AD 1649. The monarchy was abolished and initially the country was governed as a Republic under the Commonwealth. Rivalries however forced Cromwell to take over as Lord Protector in AD 1653. Although invited to become king Cromwell refused although many of the trappings of royalty were reinstated including Cromwell draped and laureate bust which appeared on milled coins minted that were minted between AD 1656 and 1658.
Cromwell’s campaigns against the Scots and particularly the Irish are well known. There were also a number of naval campaigns against the Dutch and Spanish which saw the resurgence of the Royal Navy and beginnings of what was to become the British Empire.

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Young head left / Wreath with date under

AD 1865

die no. 92

S3905; 23mm, 5.66g

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Draped bust left / Crowned shield

Lettered edge

S3226; 39mm, 29.71g

A pleasing crown, even wear and previously graded by PCGS as VF30.

Indirectly descended from Henry VIII chief minister Thomas Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell was born in AD 1599 to a landowning family from Huntingdon. He entered Parliament in AD 1628 and initially he did not oppose King Charles although he was leading campaigner against the king’s bishops and their lack of religious toleration. When the Civil War started Cromwell’s ability as a leader and organiser led to his rapid promotion with the creation of the New Model army which became known as Roundheads by their opponents. This army started to triumph over the king’s forces after several lacklustre campaigns at the start of the campaign. By keeping control of London and the main sources of finance the Royalist forces were eventually forced to sue for peace.
King Charles though managed to escape and tried to reclaim his kingdom by raising fresh forces in Scotland. Defeated again he was brought back to London where he was tried and executed in AD 1649. The monarchy was abolished and initially the country was governed as a Republic under the Commonwealth. Rivalries however forced Cromwell to take over as Lord Protector in AD 1653. Although invited to become king Cromwell refused although many of the trappings of royalty were reinstated including Cromwell draped and laureate bust which appeared on milled coins minted that were minted between AD 1656 and 1658.
Cromwell’s campaigns against the Scots and particularly the Irish are well known. There were also a number of naval campaigns against the Dutch and Spanish which saw the resurgence of the Royal Navy and beginnings of what was to become the British Empire.

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John Croker’s portrait of Anne, VIGO below. / Crowned cruciform shields, edge displays the regnal year ‘TERTIO’

VIGO below bust. This coin was made from bullion captured from the Spanish fleet in Vigo bay, a historic British naval accomplishment.

S3576; 38mm, 29.83g, Bull 1340, ESC 99

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Minor wear to high points, dark tone with some iridescence. An iconic piece.

A notable 1702 naval victory for the Anglo-Dutch alliance during the War of the Spanish Succession, Vigo Bay saw the capture of part of the Spanish treasure fleet. Captured specie was transported to the Royal Mint and, supposedly, struck into coins with ‘VIGO’ inscribed on the obverse.

Anne was the second daughter of James II but unlike James remained a protestant. Married to George of Denmark she produced 17 children although none survived to take the throne. Anne presided over the Act of Union between Scotland and England in AD 1707. Her reign also saw a highly effective war against Louis XIV of France which was then the dominant power in Europe. During a highly effective campaign commanded by the Duke of Marlborough the French were beaten back and eventually sued for peace.

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Commemorating the birth of Charles II on 29th May AD 1630

Cruciform shields

30mm, 3.60g

This coin comes with a previous printed label.

A little wear, even dark old collection tone.

Born the second son of James I Charles became heir upon the death of his elder brother Henry in AD 1612. After an unsuccessful attempt to marry him to the Infanta of Spain Charles married the Catholic Henrietta Maria of France in AD 1625. Charles strongly believed in the divine right of kings and upon his accension to the throne in AD 1625 it was not long before he quarrelled with Parliament which tried to curb his powers. This caused increasing unrest at his attempts to raise taxes without Parliamentary consent. There was uneasiness with his religious policies in part due to his marriage to a Catholic queen. He also quarrelled with the Scottish bishops and eventually both the Scottish and English Parliaments rebelled starting the Civil War.
Having been defeated by armies raised by Parliament Charles eventually fled from Oxford to the north where he was captured by the Scots who handed him over to the Long Parliament in London. Refusing to accept a Constitutional monarchy Charles escaped to the Isle of Wight. Charles attempted to reassert his control but was defeated by the Parliamentarians under Cromwell who had him brought back to London and tried. This time Charles was sentenced to death and was executed in Whitehall in January AD 1649. This instigated the Commonwealth when the country was ruled as a Republic until Charles II was restored as king in AD 1660.
The reign of Charles I is one of the most interesting numismatically. Not only were many provincial mints set up, particularly during the Civil War period, some outstanding machine- made coins were produced both in England and Scotland under Nicholas Briot.

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Sank in Scilly Isles 1743 AD

Silver 8 Reales Pillar Dollar

Mexico Philip V of Spain, AD 1740

Crowned shield/Twin pillars

39mm, 26.40g

This coin comes with a ‘Certificate of Origin’ giving details of the wreck.

The Hollandia, sunk in 1743 off the Scilly Isles, southwest of England.
Blown off course on her way to the East Indies, the Hollandia struck Gunner Rock and sank in about 110 feet of water 1½ miles east of the rock on July 13, 1743. There were no survivors.
The first sign of the wreck came in 1971, when divers under Rex Cowan located the wreck site and within a couple years salvaged over 35,000 silver coins among the nearly 130,000 guilders (dollar-sized units) recorded to be on board the Hollandia. A great majority of the coins were Mexican “pillar dollars,” but there were also some silver cobs, including the scarce Mexican transitional “klippes” of 1733-1734 and a few Guatemala cobs, in mixed condition.

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AD 1710

Draped bust left/ Crowned Cruciform shields

S3574; 8.27g, 25mm

A pleasing portrait and honest piece, scratches between 3 and 6 o’clock on reverse (see photo).

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Anne was the second daughter of James II but unlike James remained a protestant. Married to George of Denmark she produced 17 children although none survived to take the throne. Anne presided over the Act of Union between Scotland and England in AD 1707. Her reign also saw a highly effective war against Louis XIV of France which was then the dominant power in Europe. During a highly effective campaign commanded by the Duke of Marlborough the French were beaten back and eventually sued for peace.

Bullion captured from the Spanish in Vigo bay was used to issue a number of gold and silver coins all of which have VIGO inscribed beneath the queens bust.

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AD 1845

Young head left/Crowned shield, cinquefoil steps

S3882; 38mm, 30.18g

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Gothic type bust/Crowned cruciform shields, emblems in angles, inscribed edge

S3883; 39mm, 28.30g

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Draped bust left / Cruciform shields

S3575, 21mm, 4.17g

Hard to find in high grade, pleasing in hand.

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Anne was the second daughter of James II but unlike James remained a protestant. Married to George of Denmark she produced 17 children although none survived to take the throne. Anne presided over the Act of Union between Scotland and England in AD 1707. Her reign also saw a highly effective war against Louis XIV of France which was then the dominant power in Europe. During a highly effective campaign commanded by the Duke of Marlborough the French were beaten back and eventually sued for peace.

Bullion captured from the Spanish in Vigo bay was used to issue a number of gold and silver coins all of which have VIGO inscribed beneath the queens bust.

The post Anne AD 1702-1714 Gold Half Guinea AD 1714 appeared first on Silbury Coins.