Great Britain 1662 gold broad
The first specimen was lot 20202 in Ponterio sale 176 (Chicago, August 2013), where it sold for $11,162. The catalog description[1] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Charles II, 1660-1685. Broad of 20 Shillings, 1662. Rare Charles II Broad Laureate and draped bust right, finely styled by Thomas Simon. Rv. Crowned square topped shield. Diagnostic die breaks, particularly at the last two digits of the date. Rare. Listed with the regular issues, this coin is a precursor to the Guinea coinages (at 20 Shillings in this period), and is sometimes considered a pattern. Superbly detailed breast and hair, and bright surfaces overall. NGC MS-62. Ex: Steinberg, 1985." The second specimen was lot 40425 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $24,000. The catalog description[2] noted, "Stunning "Broad" Pattern from the Beginning of the Stuart Restoration. GREAT BRITAIN. Gold Broad Pattern (20 Shillings), 1662. London Mint. Charles II. NGC MS-61. Often referred to as a Pattern issue, this finely styled gold portrait issue by Thomas Simon saw limited production, and was the final coin to be denominated as such; following its production, the Guinea would become the standard gold issue. One of the finer examples of the type that one could hope to encounter, this Mint State stunner radiates with a tremendous degree of luster and brilliance, with some enticing frosting imparted unto the devices. Some slight adjustment marks are noted, but do not interfere with the overall opulence on display." Oliver Cromwell's death in September 1658 left a leadership vacuum which was quickly filled by inviting prince Charles back from exile to become Charles II. The first series of gold coins of his regime reverted to the old practice of not dating them and come in denominations of unite, double crown and crown. When milled coinage was introduced in 1663, these denominations were retired in favor of the guinea, its fractions and multiples. The guinea would be the basis for all gold issues until the reform of 1817 and took its name from the source of the original gold, the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa. This gold broad was struck as a pattern as the milled coinage was being organized but the denomination was not adopted.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold.
Catalog reference: S-3337A; North-2780; Fr-Not listed; KM-Pn32.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, and Bruce Roland Hagen, Ponterio sale 176: The Thos. H. Law Collection of English Gold Coins, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2013.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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