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6 Pence - Commonwealth of England Sun mintmark
| Issuer | England |
|---|---|
| Year | 1649-1657 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field displays the shield of the Arms of England — showing the cross of St. George quarterly with the lions of England — set within a wreath of laurel and palm branches tied at the base. A sun mintmark appears at the top of the coin above the wreath, flanked by pellets. The peripheral legend, separated from the inner design by a beaded border, reads · THE · COMMONWEALTH · OF · ENGLAND · in Roman capitals, with the coin's characteristically irregular hammered flan visible at the margins. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | · THE · COMMONWEALTH · OF · ENGLAND · |
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| Additional information |
The Commonwealth coinage of 1649–1657 was the direct result of a deliberate political rupture: after the execution of Charles I, Parliament abolished the monarchy and with it every coin type bearing a royal portrait. The new dies stripped away any trace of personal rule, producing what is arguably the most ideologically charged coinage in English history. The Sun mintmark places this piece among the earlier Commonwealth issues, the mark used at the Tower Mint before the series transitioned through subsequent marks.
These coins were deeply unpopular with the English public, who found the all-text format cold and difficult to authenticate at a glance.