Commonwealth (1649-60) gold Crown, 1652, is a rare and historically significant coin. Struck in 22 carat gold, it features an English shield within laurel and palm branches on the obverse, with legends in plain English reading "THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND". The reverse displays conjoined English and Irish shields, with the value "V" above, surrounded by a beaded circle and the legend "GOD WITH VS".

This coin is particularly notable for being among the first British coins to have legends in English rather than Latin, reflecting the Protestant leanings of the Commonwealth period. The use of English was intended to show allegiance to Protestantism.

Key features of this specific coin include:

• Weight: 2.25g

• Mint mark: Sun (without stops)

• NGC grade: AU55

• NGC Certification: 2130739-028

The 1652 date is considered the second rarest for this mint mark, making this specimen extremely rare. While it shows some signs of wear, including toning and surface marks, its high grade indicates an excellent state of preservation.

Provenance:

• Previously sold at Spink Coin Auction, 26th March 2008, lot 841 (catalogued as 1651)

This coin provides a tangible link to a pivotal period in British history, representing the numismatic changes implemented during the Commonwealth era before Cromwell's later reversion to Latin legends on his milled coinage.