£1,200 - £1,800
c1658 Oliver Cromwell copper pattern Farthing, no portrait (Peck 388, North 2738). Obverse: three pillars, linked by a chain and surmounted by a cross, a harp and a thistle, star/mullet initial mark followed by 'TVHS · VNITED · INVINCIBLE' around, no letter under the pillars. Reverse: ship sailing leftwithin a rope circle, mullet initial mark ' AND GOD DIRECT OVRCOVRS' around. Weight: 4.56g. Diameter: 22mm. Grade: aVF - rich, attractive brown tone with one flat spot to the edge, no other real issues for around Very Fine. Comes with an old ticket.
While this piece dates from Oliver Cromwell's reign as Lord Protector it does not feature his portrait, unlike some other coins and patterns of the period.
Numismatists attribute the design of this pattern Farthing to a moneyer named David Ramage, whose 'R' initial is seen on other variants.
Ramage's engravings meet the challenge of designing copper coinage without a royal portriat by incorporating straightforward puritan symbols. The three pillars represent the three kingdoms: England, Scotland and Ireland. The ship represents the state, sailing on a fair Protestant wind.
The strident English inscriptions - 'Thus united invincible and God directs our course' - are typical of the interregnum period, professing the righteousness of the Commonwealth government.
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