M519 - The Commonwealth, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector
(1653-1658), 1653, bronze medal, 35 mm, 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.
