Description

Commonwealth, 1649-1660. Gold Medal 1658, 16.84 g. Death of Oliver Cromwell. Unsigned. Struck from later, refurbished Dutch dies. Bust laureate and draped. OLIVAR . D. G. RP . ANG . SCO . HIB . PRO. Rv. Shepherd attending his flock near an olive tree. NON . DEFITIENT . OLIVA . SEP. 3.1658. Plain edge. 28.7 mm. Eimer 201. MI i 434/84. van Loon II, 420,3. Saunders/Vanhoudt 1658-8. Selten / Rare. FDC / Mint State. Prachtexemplar / Cabinet piece.

Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 - 3 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician, and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially as a senior commander in the Parliamentarian army and latterly as a politician. A leading advocate of the execution of Charles I in January 1649, which led to the establishment of the Commonwealth of England, he ruled as Lord Protector from December 1653 until his death in 1658. He died at age 59 at Whitehall on 3 September 1658, the anniversary of his great victories at Dunbar and Worcester.

This medal has been struck in Holland to supply collectors, who were unable to procure the more valuable one by Simon. Both dies, after some use, broke. A new die of the obverse was engraved and the flaw on the reverse was removed by polishing partially impacting the details of the relief.