The featured item on our online store this week is a 1653 Commonwealth of England Shilling, Sun mint mark, Ref: Spink 3217. It is in very fine condition; slightly weak in the centre, but with bold legends and an excellent flan.
The coinage of the Commonwealth of England, which existed from 1649 to 1660, is a fascinating reflection of the era's political and social climate. Following the execution of Charles I, the newly established republican government sought to distance itself from the imagery and traditions of the monarchy. This was clearly demonstrated in their coinage, which notably omitted the monarch's portrait, a feature that had been a staple of English coins for centuries.
Instead, the coins of the Commonwealth featured simple, yet symbolic designs. The obverse displayed the arms of England, a St George's Cross within a shield, while the reverse showcased the arms of the Commonwealth, combining the English cross with the Irish harp. Inscriptions, which feature English, as opposed to the classical Latin, were equally straightforward. The obverse legend of the larger denominations read "The Commonwealth of England" while the reverse bore the motto "God with us." The purity of the silver coinage was maintained, and the coins continued to be struck using the traditional hammered method. This period of coinage, while brief, stands as a unique chapter in English numismatic history, embodying the ideals and aesthetics of a nascent republic.
