Coins of England and Great Britain

('Coins of the UK')

by Tony Clayton

Fifty and Sixty Shillings

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Values of Fifty & Sixty Shilling Coins
Pictures of Fifty & Sixty Shilling Coins

Fifty Shillings

A gold 50 shilling piece was issued by Oliver Cromwell in 1656. The obverse shows Oliver Cromwell facing left, with the inscription OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO HIB &c PRO (Oliver, by the Grace of God Protector of the Republic of England, Scotland, Ireland &c.). On the reverse is a crowned shield with the date above and the legend PAX QVAERITVR BELLO (Peace through War) around. The edge has PROTECTOR LITERIS LITERAE NVMMIS CORONA ET SALVS in relief.

Coincraft's catalogue states that only eleven pieces are thought to exist. It is exactly the same diameter and design as the Broad of 20 shillings, but weighs 2.5 times as much. It may have been what we now call a piedfort proof.

Spink records that an EF specimen sold for £15,250 in May 1989.

Sixty Shillings

Treble Sovereign

A unique treble sovereign of Henry VII is known where the sovereign dies were used but the flan is three times the normal thickness. It is probable that it was specially minted as a presentation piece.

Double Sovereign

Similarly a unique double thickness Fine Sovereign of Edward VI is known. As the Fine Sovereign was valued at 30 shillings, this 'peidfort' coin, presentation piece or pattern would have been 'valued' at 60 shillings.

Triple Unite

Between 1642 and 1644, during the Civil War, Charles I issued Triple Unites worth sixty shillings from both the Shrewsbury and Oxford Mints. An Oxford Triple Unite of 1644 has recently been advertised for just under £15,000. Those from Shrewsbury are extremely rare, and can be distinguished by the fact that the reverse inscription RELIG PROT LEG ANG LIBER PAR is in two lines, rather than three used at Oxford.

Acknowledgements

See my Main Coins Index page for acknowledgements

Links

Two Pounds/Guineas <<-- : -->> Five Pounds/Guineas
Main Index
Values Index
Values of 50s and 60s coins.
n.b. No detailed values of these coins are available.
Pictures of 50s and 60s coins.
Pictures Index

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Coins of UK - Fifty and Sixty Shillings
Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v20 9th October 2024