DENOMINATIONS.--_Silver._ Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Sixpence,
Half-groat, Penny, Halfpenny. _Gold._ Broad, or Twenty-shilling-piece;
Half-broad, or Ten-shilling-piece; Quarter-broad, or Five-shilling-piece.
OBVERSE.--_Type._ Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Half-shilling,
Half-groat, and Penny, a plain shield charged with the cross of St.
George, encircled by a branch of palm, and an olive branch. Halfpenny,
same shield, without branches or numerals. Numerals to denote value (as
V for 5_s._; II VI for 2_s._ 6_d._; XII for 12_d._; VI for 6_d._; II
for 2_d._) on all except the Halfpennies.
_Legend._ THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND. Half-groat, Penny, and
Halfpenny, no legend or numerals. Half-shilling, one type has TRVTH AND
PEACE.
REVERSE.--_Type._ Shield of St. George’s cross, and shield of Irish
harp conjoined, above which is the value, in numerals. Halfpenny,
single shield of the Irish harp.
_Legend._ GOD WITH US, and date. Half-groat and Penny, without legend.
Halfpenny without legend or value.
_Rarity._ All comparatively common; the coins of 1658 and 1660 are
rarest.
_Gold._ Twenty-shilling, Ten-shilling, and Five-shilling pieces, same
type and legend as the silver; numerals to denote value.
_Copper._ Farthings. On the obverse a shield of St. George’s cross
as before; reverse, shield of Irish harp; legend, FARTHING TOKENS OF
ENGLAND. ENGLAND’S FARTHING. THE FARTHIN TOKENS FOR. FOR NECESSITY OF
CHANGE, 1649. RELEFE OF THE PORE, etc. Pewter Farthing, shield with
voided cross, surmounted by the letters, T.K., in an oval; legend,
1/4 OVNCE OF FINE PEWTR. Reverse: shield of Irish harp, upon rays,
surmounted by a palm and laurel wreath; legend, FOR NECESSARY CHANGE.
These are all pattern pieces, and are all rare. Several pattern pieces
for other coins are also known. One of these has the two shields on the
reverse held by a winged angel, and the words GVARDED WITH ANGELS, 1651.