Broad (English gold coin)

The Broad is a British coin worth 20 shillings, written as 20/-, issued by the Commonwealth of England in 1656. It is a milled gold coin weighing 9.0 to 9.1 grams with a diameter of 29 or 30 millimetres, and was designed by Thomas Simon.

The obverse of the coin depicts the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell as a laureated Roman emperor, with the legend inscribed OLIVAR D G RP ANG SCO HIB &C PRO (translated as, "Oliver, by the Grace of God and Republic, of England, Scotland, Ireland etc. Protector"). The reverse shows a crowned shield depicting the arms of the Commonwealth with the inscription PAX QVAERITVR BELLO 1656 (translated as, Peace is sought through war).

A Mr Pinkerton, writing at the time that the coins were in circulation, noted that many of the coins were so worn as to be almost flat.

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