Commonwealth 1653 Half-Unite or Double Crown, NGC MS62

Commonwealth (1649-60), gold Double Crown or Half-Unite, 1653, English shield within laurel and palm branch, legends in English language, initial mark sun, .THE. COMMONWEALTH. OF. ENGLAND., rev. English and Irish shields, large value .X. above, beaded circle and legend surrounding, date at top, GOD. WITH. VS., weight 4.56g (Schneider 352; EGC Bull 45 R2; N.2717; S.3210). Toned with a red hue, some light marks and a little uneven in shape, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS62, rare.

NGC Certification 2124462-032.

As of September 2022 we note only two graded finer at NGC.

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 2007, lot 51622.

Ex St James Auction 6, 8^th June 2007, lot 165.

Ex St James Auction 7, 8^th February 2008, lot 171.

Ex St James Auction 12, 5^th November 2009, lot 457.