COMMONWEALTH. (1649 to 1660.)
Denominations.—Silver. Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence, Half-groat, Penny, Halfpenny. Gold. Broad, or Twenty-shilling-piece; Half-broad, or Ten-shilling-piece; Quarter-broad, or Five-shilling-piece.
Obverse.—Type. Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Half-shilling, Half-groat, and Penny, a plain shield charged with the cross of St. George, encircled by a branch of palm, and an olive branch. Halfpenny, same shield, without branches or numerals. Numerals to denote value (as V for 5s.; II VI for 2s. 6d.; XII for 12d.; VI for 6d.; II for 2d.) on all except the Halfpennies.
Legend. THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND. Half-groat, Penny, and Halfpenny, no legend or numerals. Half-shilling, one type has TRVTH AND PEACE.
Reverse.—Type. Shield of St. George’s cross, and shield of Irish harp conjoined, above which is the value, in numerals. Halfpenny, single shield of the Irish harp.
Legend. GOD WITH US, and date. Half-groat and Penny, without legend. Halfpenny without legend or value.
Rarity. All comparatively common; the coins of 1658 and 1660 are rarest.
Gold. Twenty-shilling, Ten-shilling, and Five-shilling pieces, same type and legend as the silver; numerals to denote value.
Copper. Farthings. On the obverse a shield of St. George’s cross as before; reverse, shield of Irish harp; legend, FARTHING TOKENS OF ENGLAND. ENGLAND’S FARTHING. THE FARTHIN TOKENS FOR. FOR NECESSITY OF CHANGE, 1649. RELEFE OF THE PORE, etc. Pewter Farthing, shield with voided cross, surmounted by the letters, T.K., in an oval; legend, ¼ OVNCE OF FINE PEWTR. Reverse: shield of Irish harp, upon rays, surmounted by a palm and laurel wreath; legend, FOR NECESSARY CHANGE. These are all pattern pieces, and are all rare. Several pattern pieces for other coins are also known. One of these has the two shields on the reverse held by a winged angel, and the words GVARDED WITH ANGELS, 1651.