Finally after nearly 6byears metal detecting I found Oliver cromwell commonwealth hammered coin I found so many monarchs, but this one has been illusive until today.
I bet your heart was beating a little faster as you cleaned off the dirt on its surface. Congratulations.
Technically this is a Commonwealth half groat. The Commonwealth period was the few years before Cromwell become the Lord Protector. Cromwell hoped to pass his office on to his son, but his son proved to be a weak leader. The British asked Charles I’s son, Charles II, to be king and he accepted. All of the Commonwealth and Cromwell coins are tough, especially in nice condition. I bought this Commonwealth shilling a FUN show a couple years ago. NGC graded it AU-50. I don't know about that, but it's the best of I have seen. I have owned this one for many years. When I bought it, experienced collectors told me it was "better than average." Here is my one Cromwell portrait coin, a 1658 shilling. I'd like to get a better one, in EF or so, but the prices are north of $5,000 for the really nice ones.
