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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,973 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
815 Posts |
I am not sure if my philosophy is typical, but I don't collect particular runs or series as much as I collect "representatives" of major eras and designs for each country I am interested in, which at the moment is Canada, USA, GB, British India, and a few outliers.
So, I am fascinated by Oliver Cromwell. I think the idea of a non-monarch on British coinage is just a great discussion topic, and as such, I would love to have a coin featuring him in my binder.
I began looking for a crown or half crown, since they would make the most sense, and was floored by the asking prices. I understand coins featuring him would be rather old, but I was not expecting the $8-9000 prices I found.
So my question is, is a coin with Cromwell depicted for less than $100 out of the question? Should I just "plaster over" the hole in my collection?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
Cromwell represents a unique, notorious, and rather brief period in British history. For the same reason, I have always wanted a coin with the image of Richard III, and for the same reason, have always found them prohibitively expensive. And I don't expect the excitement over the find at the Greyfriars dig in the Leicester car park will make the Richard III coinage any less pricy. The location of Cromwell's remains after his "posthumous execution" are also in doubt; I recommend purchasing your Commonwealth crown before somebody finds them!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
709 Posts |
My philosophy is like yours. I try to collect one of each design, rather than one of each year. If you hear of any Cromwellian era coins going cheap let me know well in advance, so I dont get trampled to death in the rush. A battered 1649 2d cost me a kidney....
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Moderator
 Australia
16806 Posts |
Part of the problem is that for most of the Commonwealth Interregnum, the coinage did not actually depict Cromwell. "Commonwealth" coinage is much cheaper, but is much cruder in design (being hammered rather than machine-struck) and does not show either the name or portrait of Cromwell.
The "Protectorate" era, when Cromwell's portrait did grace the coinage in a very kinglike fashion, only lasted for a couple of years before his death (1656-1658). The brief period of issue, small mintages (so small they are sometimes classified as "patterns" rather than circulation coins) and extremely huge demand all combine to produce extremely high prices for these pieces.
Finding a Cromwell coin for less than $1000 is going to be a hard ask. $100 will be impossible.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Quote:
So my question is, is a coin with Cromwell depicted for less than $100 out of the question? Should I just "plaster over" the hole in my collection? Well, the British Coin Values site claims 650 pounds (about $1000) for a Cromwell shilling and 1000 pounds ($1500) for a half-crown in the lowest grade they list... which is the equivalent of American VF-20. I'd say that if you somehow found a coin on sale that was AG grade, ugly, and with serious other problems, and the seller wanted to give you a discount for some reason, you might possibly just barely get it for $100. That's a distinct possibility; however, if I were you, I wouldn't have held out for that (except possibly notifying dealers in case they do happen to have any Cromwells so ugly they can't get anyone else to buy them  ) |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Ive seen a 'cromwell period' token go quite cheap, but I'm afriad your best bet is to buy a metal detector and a plane ticket.
I wonder if Monmouth minted any coins?
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Valued Member
60 Posts |
I doubt you could buy a Cromwell crown/halfcrown for less than 4 figures, halfcrowns would be £1000+ and crowns Even more, you'll need deep pockets for Cromwell coinage.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Hi, newbie here, Paul from South London, England, collecting English milled silver. Here is my first offering (it's a Cromwell shilling):   |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
815 Posts |
Jealous. If you don't mind me asking, what did that set you back?
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
I don't mind at all, it was just over £1000 (about $1650)
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Much like yourself I want to get an example of each type, rather than dates, and I was a bit reckless with this one! Twice as much as I have paid for any other coin!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Well - it is certainly lovely and very crisp!
Must be one of the early milled coins - I havent ever seen a milled Charles 1st.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
Thanks Ben - there is Briot's milled coinage of Charles I from 1631-39 and even milled Elizabeth I silver but Spink start their milled section with Charles II
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
68 Posts |
1562 milled sixpence:   |
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Valued Member
United States
343 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
815 Posts |
I was thinking about getting a medal, they are much cheaper.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,973 |
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Posted 11/02/2012 02:59 am
