| Description |
Cromwell Crown 1658/7, S-3226, MS63 NGC. Exceptional in many ways, this crown also exhibits original silvery gray toning with some dashes of greenish gold iridescence. The dappled toning is pleasing. Not rare per se?but quite scarce and very popular as the first milled crown. It was designed by England's finest engraver of all time, Thomas Simon -- an act which lost him all favor with Charles II when the royal Restoration occurred in 1660. It was also the first of the new milled, or machine-made, coinage other than a few earlier experiments. The hammer method returned briefly (1660-62) but the milled pieces of Cromwell were clearly superior in all aspects. Thus the time-honored means of making money for the British Isles became lost, and the minters had to learn new ways to ply their secretive trade. This is therefore one of the most historical of British crowns.
Realized $12,925.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions. |
