Broad (English Gold Coin)
The Broad was a British coin worth 20 shillings (20/-) issued by the Commonwealth of England in 1656. It was a milled gold coin weighing 9.0–9.1 grams, with a diameter of 29 or 30 millimetres, designed by Thomas Simon (also called Symonds).
The obverse of the coin depicts the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell as a laureated Roman emperor, with the inscription -- Oliver, by the Grace of God, Protector of the Republic of England, Scotland, Ireland, etc., -- while the reverse shows a crowned shield depicting the arms of the Commonwealth with the inscription -- Peace is sought through war.
The current value of the coin in "very fine" to "extremely fine" condition is £3500 to £6000 as the pieces are very rare, but normally fairly unworn, although a Mr Pinkerton, writing at the time that the coins circulated, noted that many of the coins in circulation were so worn as to be almost flat.
A piedfort version of the coin with an edge inscription is known as a Fifty shilling piece. This is extremely rare, and there are very few examples as it is probably a pattern.
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