The Commonwealth

(republic 1649-1653, Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector 1653-1658, Richard Cromwell Lord Protector 1658-1659, Republic 1659-1660)

M555 - The Commonwealth (Republic 1649-1653), Service Against Six Ships, Naval Award Medal, 1650, by Thomas Simon, Gilt Nineteenth Century Electrotype with suspension loop, 2.10g., 53mm, an anchor with the arms of England and Ireland suspended from it, above: MERUISTI (Thou Hast Merited), rev., in the foreground, a ship under attack by two frigates, cannons firing, in the distance four other ships, SERVICE DON AGAINST SIX SHIPS JVLY XXXI & AVGVST Y I 1650, (cf MI I, 390,11), extremely fine, a good antique copy of this extremely rare and important medal, with an early A.H. Baldwin ticket in the hand of the founder A. H. Baldwin (1858-1936). $495

This medal was ordered by the Commonwealth Council of State and Admiralty, to be awarded to 13 officers and seaman who took part in a naval action against ships of the parliamentary fleet that had gone over to the Royalist cause. The action depicted on the reverse is that of HMS Antelope being destroyed in neutral Dutch waters.

H5219 - Commonwealth (1649-1660), Contemporary Forgery, Silver Plated Halfcrown, 12.21g., 36mm, 1659?, m.m. Anchor (period of issue under Richard Cromwell), St. George's cross on a shield within a wreath, THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND, rev., the arms of England and Ireland, value mark •II VII• above, 165[9] GOD WITH VS (N. 2724; S.3214), flan has been cut into on edge between 12 and 2 o'lcok to expose base metal core, a rare and interesting contemporary forgery, intended to pass as legal tender of an extremely rare coin, good very fine. $795 NOW $595