Commonwealth 1651 gold Crown of Five Shillings MS65, no obverse stops

Commonwealth (1649-60), gold Crown, 1651, no stops on obverse, English shield within laurel and palm branch, legends in English language, initial mark sun, THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND, rev. English and Irish shields, value .V. above, beaded circle and legend surrounding, date at top, GOD. WITH. VS. (cf.Schneider 359; Bull EGC 62 R3; N.2719; S.3212). Lightly toned with underlying mint lustre, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS65, the finest graded of this date.

NGC certification 3743673-020.

As of December 2022 we note this coin is the finest graded gold crown of this date and equal finest grade for the denomination along with MS65 graded examples of the dates 1650 and 1653.

The Commonwealth coinage produced from 1649-60 are the first British coins to carry English language legends.

We note the Mint output of gold coin for the two year period of 1st December 1651 until 30th November 1653 totalled £38,010, the highest of the Commonwealth though the production of the smallest gold coin the crown was no doubt sparing as the longevity of the reverse die shows having been in use since 1650 with the date altered for successive years in use. The silver crown issue was no doubt much greater and the coin of choice over the gold piece which remain rare.

Provenance:

Ex Heritage, New York Signature sale, 6^th January 2014, lot 24099.

Ex St James Auction 28, 28^th June 2014, lot 142.