M419 - The Commonwealth, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector
(1653-1658), 1653, bronze medal, 33mm,
by an unknown in Geneva after Thomas Simon, armoured and draped bust of Cromwell left, OLIV D
G
R P ANG SCO ET HIB & PRO (Oliver by the grace of God Protector
of the Republic of England, Scotland and Ireland), rev. lion
displaying the arms of the Protectorate, PAX QVAERITVR BELLO (peace achieved
through war), (MI 409/46), very fine. $295
SOLD
Struck by an unknown
artist in Switzerland, the medal closely copied two works by Thomas Simon,
the obverse of his 1650, Cromwell as Lord General (MI 388/7) medal and the
reverse of the 1653, Lord Protector medal (MI 409/45). It was a commercial
venture that reflected the intense popular interest in Cromwell and the
English Republic on the continent. The
medal was struck to commemorate the dismissal of the Barebones Parliament
and the introduction of a new constitution, the Instrument of Government,
granting executive power to Cromwell for life as Lord Protector, it was the
first written constitution in the English speaking world.
