Broad (English gold coin) facts for kids
The Broad was a special gold coin made in England way back in 1656. It was worth 20 shillings, which was a lot of money at the time! This coin was created during a period when England was called the Commonwealth, and it featured the powerful leader Oliver Cromwell.
Contents
What Was the Broad Coin?
The Broad coin was a gold coin from 1656. It was made in England during a time called the Commonwealth of England. This was when England was run by a parliament and a leader named Oliver Cromwell, not a king. The coin was worth 20 shillings, which was a common value for money back then.
It was a "milled" coin, meaning it had a smooth, even edge made by a machine. This made it harder for people to clip off small bits of gold from the edges. The coin was quite small, about 29 or 30 millimeters across, and weighed around 9 grams. That's about the weight of two US dimes!
Who Was Oliver Cromwell?
Oliver Cromwell was a very important figure in English history. He was a military leader and politician. During the 1650s, he became the "Lord Protector" of England, Scotland, and Ireland. This meant he was the head of the country, similar to a king, but without the royal title. The Broad coin was made during his time in charge.
What Did the Coin Look Like?
The Broad coin was designed by an artist named Thomas Simon. It had two main sides:
- The Front (Obverse): This side showed a picture of Oliver Cromwell. He was shown looking like a Roman emperor, wearing a laurel wreath on his head. Around his image, there was a Latin phrase: "OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO HIB &c PRO". This means "Oliver, by the Grace of God, of the Republic of England, Scotland, Ireland etc., Protector."
- The Back (Reverse): This side featured a crowned shield. This shield showed the special symbols, or "arms," of the Commonwealth of England. Around the shield, another Latin phrase was written: "PAX QVAERITVR BELLO 1656". This translates to "Peace is sought through war." The year 1656 was also clearly shown.
How Rare Is the Broad Coin Today?
The Broad coin is very rare today. Because so few were made and even fewer survived, they are quite valuable. A coin in "very fine" to "extremely fine" condition can be worth a lot of money, often thousands of British pounds.
Even though they are old, many of the surviving Broad coins are not very worn. This is because they were probably not used in everyday shopping very much. However, some old records show that many coins that were used became very flat and worn down over time.
There was also an even rarer, thicker version of this coin. It was called a "Fifty shilling piece" and had special writing on its edge. This version is incredibly rare, with only a few examples known to exist. It was likely a "pattern" coin, meaning it was made as a test or sample, not for general use.
