OLIVER CROMWELL ENGLISH COMMONWEALTH COINS

During the Great Rebellion against Charles 1, many necessity coins were issued. 

Siege pieces were issued when the King had to pay his troops at a time when the mint was controlled by the Puritan rebels.

Similar to the later Irish “gun-money,” these coins were well above the usual crude level of necessity money.

From 1649 to 1660, the period of the Commonwealth, England had no King.

The commonwealth coins are quite plain, in keeping with the familiar Puritan sternness and are probably the plainest of all English coins.

Portraits are absent, but the Puritan arms, featuring the St. George’s cross make an attractive and picturesque design.

The coins were sometimes known as Breeches Money because the conjoined shield on the reverse of the coins resembled a pair of breeches.

It is interesting to note also that this is the only time when the inscriptions on the English coins occur in English rather than Latin.

In 1656 and 1658 a series of coins consisting of the 50s., 20s. and 10s. in gold, the crown, half-crown and shilling in silver, bearing the portrait of Oliver Cromwell and his coat of arms was struck.

They all show the same basic design, the large ones having inscriptions and the smaller pieces from the half groat downwards being too small.

The main type is the shield of St. George on the obverse with the inscription “THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND”. 

The reverse depicts the conjoined shields of England and Ireland with the denomination above and the inscription “GOD WITH VS” and the date.

Shortly before the death of Cromwell, some beautiful patterns were struck with his portrait.

These beautiful coins were the work of the famous die sinker Thomas Simon, who was then chief engraver to the Royal Mint.

 Denominations

Commonwealth 1649-1660

1 Crown. Shield of St. George. Rev: Shields of St. George and Ireland

1 Half-crown

1 Shilling

6 Pence

2 Pence

1 Penny

1 Halfpenny. Shield of St. George. Rev: Shield of Ireland

Oliver Cromwell, Protector 1653-58

1 Crown. Laureate bust of Oliver Cromwell. Rev: Crowned shields

1 Half-crown

1 Shilling

    

KING GEORGE 111 GREAT BRITAIN 1797 CARTWHEEL PENNY

These coins get their nickname from their unusual size and weight and were only minted in 1797. During the early years of the reign of George 111 (1760-1820), copper became so expensive that very little of it went to the Mint. The cartwheel penny was the first coin to be issued in copper, measuring 35 mm in diameter, 3, 5 mm thick with a mass of 1 oz. (28,375 g). It should not be confused with the two pence coin. 

Reverse of Cartwheel penny

The two pence was a massive piece 41 mm in diameter, 5mm thick and weighing 2 ounces. The metallic content of these pieces corresponded with their value. James Watt worked with Matthew Boulton to develop the first steam-driven coin press at the private Soho mint in Birmingham.

The cartwheel penny was the first coin minted by this steam-driven press, producing 50 large or 150 small coins a minute.

These big pennies were called cartwheel pennies in an allusion to their exceptional size and the broad, raised rim on which the incused inscription was stamped.

On the obverse appears the inscription GEORGIUS 111 DG REX (George 111, by the grace of God, king). The reverse depicts the figure

Obverse of Cartwheel penny

of Britannia, seated on a rock by the sea, with a man o’ war in the background, holding the trident (symbol of supremacy at sea) of the British navy in her hand; the legend BRITANNIA 1797 is inscribed on it. The name of the mint (Soho) can be seen on the rock just above the second 7 of the date 1797. There is a letter K on the bust of George 111 on the lower left. This stands for Küchler, the designer. 

Reverse of Cartwheel two pence

CLEANING OF SALVAGED SILVER COINS

Coins recovered from being buried in the ground, or found on the sea bed, may present special problems due to chemical reactions between the metals and the salts present in earth or sea water. Different metals need different conservation methods. Brass coins are best cleaned with hydrochloric acid. A 100 per cent application of hydrochloric acid does not damage the brass provided that the coin is not left in the acid too long. Gold coins are mostly found in a perfect state of preservation. A dilute solution of hydrochloric acid will be sufficient. A bubbling reaction will be seen when the matrix and acid come into contact with each other. After a coin has been cleaned in acid, it is advisable to drop it into an alkaline solution afterwards to neutralize the acid and to prevent any further chemical reaction. Coins should be treated in an electrolytic solution to remove salts and other corrosive chemicals. The correct and effective cleaning of salvaged coins is a specialized science and no fixed method can be endorsed.

Obverse of 1652 Brabant ducatoon after being cleaned

Reverse

Salvaged silver coins will acquire a dark patina of silver oxide and are the most difficult to clean. The coins of the outer layer of a lump of silver will, naturally, not be so well preserved as those on the inside, most of the latter being in perfect condition.

 Even if it is found encased in matrix, it will still be coated with a thin layer of silver oxide. Care should be taken not damaging the surface of the coin. A silver coin removed from a layer of matrix must be dipped into a 100 per cent hydrochloric solution. A violent reaction will take place as the hydrochloric acid attacks the lime and iron oxide encrustations that make up a typical matrix deposit. The coin must be left to soak in the acid until the reaction has stopped. Wash thoroughly in a soap solution. The silver coin should now be clear of most oxides or matrix encrustations and details such as dates and mint marks will be visible. However, the silver oxide layer will still be present as a black coating barricading details on the article.

To remove this oxide the coin must be placed in an alkaline solution and an electric current of 12 volts passed through it. The coin must be attached to the negative terminal of a car battery and the positive terminal attached to a stainless steel plate. The coin and plate should be about 5 cm apart. When the current is switched on, a stream of bubbles will be visible. This dissolves the oxide and repels it. Large pieces of black oxide will be removed from the coin. The solution will soon be discolored. About 10 to 12 coins can be cleaned in a liter of solution, depending on their size. After a minute the coin must be removed from the electrolytic solution and washed in a strong detergent. It will now have a dull silver color. To restore the original luster of the piece, carefully clean it with a toothbrush and detergent. Coins cleaned in this way are still acceptable to coin collectors. 

WORLD COMMEMORATIVE COINS

Many commemoratives have been issued as crown-size coins, but other sizes have been used just as frequently. Commemoratives have designs and legends that mark important occasions, celebrate a historic anniversary, or glorify famous men. Philatelists describe issues by several countries celebrating the same event as omnibus issues.  Most modern commemoratives recall events of times past; they are frequently issued to celebrate the anniversary of some political or military achievement. The centennial of an event is perhaps most often celebrated.

 Events commemorated on recent coins are as far distant in time as 544 BC. Ceylon marked 2500 years of Buddhism in 1957 with a set of coins. Commemoratives also pay respect to famous men and mark events in the lives of people as well as of nations. 

Births, marriages and deaths, sporting events like the Olympic Games, anniversaries of the reign-all have been celebrated with coins. Besides statesmen and rulers, coins have recognized discoveries and explorers, builders, physicians and scientists, writers and musicians, religious leaders and saints. 

Countries with monarchs often strike commemorative coins to celebrate coronations, anniversaries of the reign, and occasionally to memorialize a whole dynasty. Private events of monarchs’ lives such as birthdays and weddings are also recorded on special commemorative coins. 

Silver wedding anniversary

Commemoratives are by no means limited to royalty. However, it is unusual for a commoner, no matter how deserving, to be memorialized during his lifetime. The honor went to General Douglas MacArthur who was portrayed on coins of the Philippines. The Churchill crown was issued in 1965 to commemorate the death in that year of Sir Winston Churchill. The crown has a milled edge and is unusual for a modern coin in that it does not bear any mark of value of denomination. Churchill was the first commoner to appear on a British coin since Cromwell. 

Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935

Reverse of King George Jubilee crown

TABORAS AND RUPIEN OF GERMAN EAST AFRICA

German East Africa (Tanganyika) is located on the coast of east-central Africa. Germany acquired control of the area by treaties with coastal chiefs in 1884, established it as a protectorate in 1891, and proclaimed it the Colony of German East Africa in 1897. During World War 1, German troops fought a skillful guerrilla campaign to the very end, and even produced emergency coins inscribed “D.O.A”

Mintmarks

A - Berlin

J - Hamburg

T - Tabora

Monetary System until 1902

64 Pesa  = 1 Rupie

Commencing  1902

100 Heller = 1 Rupie

Legends

The pesa has the legend of the German East Africa Company with the imperial eagle on the obverse and an Arabic inscription on the reverse.

Coins inscribed “Deutche Ostafrika” were introduced in 1904, based on the rupee of 100 heller, and featured the imperial crown and a wreathed value.

All the silver coins feature the bust of Kaiser Wilhelm on the obverse. From 1890 -1902 the reverse design depicts a lion and from 1904 a wreathed value.

The gold tabora or 15 rupien features the imperial eagle on the obverse and an elephant on the reverse.

Denominations and dates of mintage

Pesa   Copper                        1890-92

½ Heller   Bronze                  1904-06

Heller   Bronze                       1904-13

5 Heller   Bronze                    1908-09

5 Heller   Copper-Nickel       1913-14 

5 Heller    Brass                       1916T 

Two varieties exist.

Emergency coins inscribed “D.O.A”

10 Heller    Copper-Nickel        1908-14   

20 Heller Copper and brass versions   1916T 

Varieties exist. Emergency coins inscribed “D.O.A”

A selection of German East African Coins

¼  Rupie     Silver    1891-1914

½  Rupie     Silver    1891-1914

     Rupie          Silver    1890-1914

 2 Rupien     Silver    1893-94

15 Rupien   Gold      1916T

Many of the German East African coins were incorporated in jewelry. The gold taboras or 15 rupien are difficult to find in superb condition. Two versions of the 20 heller copper coins are rare. Four patterns exist.

SCHEEPJESGULDEN OR SHIP'S GUILDER

In 1795 the Cape was captured by a British fleet and for the first time British gold and copper coins were officially imported. In 1802, following the Peace of Amiens, Britain handed the colony back to the Netherlands, but in 1806 retook it.

 It was Commissioner-General de Mist who was responsible for the minting of the first coins. During the brief Dutch repossession of the Cape, the mint of Enkhuizen in Holland struck the first coinage to be made for the colony. A total of 100 000 silver scheepjesguldens  in denominations of 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 guilder, dated 1802 were struck. Copper doits in denominations of 1/16^th and 1/32^nd of a guilder were also sent to the Cape.  After the British reoccupation a supply of the two smallest denominations ship coins were issued in 1806 for local use.

The 1 guilder and the copper coins were apparently never circulated at the Cape to any large extent. Most of the coins were forwarded to the Batavian Republic, Indonesia where they were declared legal tender.

The obverse of the silver guilders depicts an image of a three-massed ship on a stormy sea, encircled by a rope with the words “indiae bata vorum”.

The reverse bore the denomination and the crowned lion shield of the United Netherlands in a rope circle. The legend contains the name of the province in which the coins had been minted. The copper doits also depicts the crowned lion shield on the obverse and “indiae bata vorum“on the reverse.

Silver and gold specimens of the 1-, ½- and ¼ guilders are extremely rare. Varieties of all the denominations do exist.

The scheepjesgulden or ship’s guilder may be regarded as the first true South-African coin.

HOW TO DETECT IRREGULARITIES ON COINS

Rim nicks

Get into the habit of first examining the rim of a coin. This will prevent you from omitting the most vital aspect of your examination of any coin. Rim nicks can reduce the value of the coin to a large extent, depending on the seriousness of the nick and the general grade of the coin.

Rim pin mounted coins

Look for pinholes in the rim, which would make the coin "ex-mount". Examine the milling carefully. Any irregularities might indicate that a pinhole has been repaired. If you come across an irregularity look for other irregularities at the corresponding positions. If the irregularity is at 12 o'clock, there might be another at 6 o'clock. If there is no corresponding hole, the damage may be other than ex-mount damage. A favorite combination is 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock, or at four equidistant points. Although the face of the coin may be perfect, the ex- mount coin reduces the value considerably.

Ex-mount traces on the face of the coin

Coins may have been holed or pierced to wear as jewelry. The hole could have been cleverly repaired. Look for blemishes in the center of the coin or two at diametrically opposite sides of the coin. 

Ex-clasp coins

Clasps or holders were used with the intention of mounting coin without damaging them. Coins should be carefully examined since it is difficult to detect the damage to these coins.

Silvering

The coin has been treated with some chemical, most often to match it with its mounting or for other reasons. The coin will have an unnatural appearance.

Gilding 

Gold coin were frequently mounted and gilded to match the brooch into which they were mounted. Gilding leaves a thick coat on the coin, which affects the clarity of the detail.

Polishing

The coin might have been polished with a commercial cleaner or have been buffed. The coin is recognized by an unnatural shininess. Polishing may briefly improve its superficial appearance, but such abrasive action will destroy the patina and reduce the fineness of the high points of the surface. On first view the coin looks beautiful, but its value has been impaired. 

The extent of the diminutions in values can vary substantially. It often takes an expert to discern variations in irregularities, and reach an overall conclusion.