Reproduction Oliver Cromwell Gold Broad

Obverse: Laureate bust of Oliver Cromwell, left. Grained edge to coin. Text around OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCOT ET HIB & PRO.

Reverse: Crowned coat-of-arms of the Protectorate, quartered arms of England, Scotland and Ireland (nine strings to harp); central escutcheon with lion rampant, left. Date 1656 split by crown. Text around PAX QVÆRITVR BELLO (Peace is sought by war).

History: The Protectorate was established in December 1653, with portrait coins authorised in 1655. All coins were machine made, struck from the dies of Thomas Simon in the presses of the Frenchman, Pierre Blondeau. The Broad had a value of Twenty Shillings.

Date: Blondeau’s, Drury House, London mint, 1656

Diameter: 2.9cm