Obverse:

THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND. Shield of St. George in wreath of palm and laurel.

Reverse:

1653 GOD WITH US. Joined shields of St. George and Ireland with value mark II VI above.

Some surface corrosion otherwise good fine, neatly stuck on a round flan with near full outer beading, dark 'Thames' tone. No stop after 'THE'.

Ex Blackfriars hoard.

The Blackfriars hoard was found on the Thames foreshore near Blackfriars Bridge, London and contained over 1,500 coins ranging Edward VI to the Commonwealth. An rare and unusually large proportion of the coins were from the Commonwealth period and of which, 174 were halfcrowns, 73 of the year 1653. The hoard was examined by the British Museum and subsequently returned to the finder, who sold it via Baldwins auction on 13 October 1997.