283 
seige pieces, is diamond-shaped ; Obverse—Crown between C.R. 
Reverse—“ Obs” Newark, 1646. The Pontefract coins are 
sometimes octagonal, sometimes round; Obverse—C.R. under 
a Crown. Legend— Dum Spero Spero.” Obverse—Pontefract 
Castle and the name. Some Seige pieces have only their value 
stamped on them, or their weight, as on the 9d piece is 1 dwt. 
6 grs. 
During the Common Wealth the gold coins were 20/-, 10/-, 
5/- pieces. Silver, Crown, Half-crown, Shilling, Half-shilling, 
etc. Obverse—Shield of the Cross of St. George, encircled by 
a Palm branch and an Olive branch. Legend—The Common 
Wealth of England. Obverse—God with us. Hence a cavalier 
once wittily remarked: ‘I see that God is on one side, and the 
Common Wealth on the other.” Sometimes the Reverse of the 
coins bore the Shield of St. George’s Cross, and the Shield of 
the Irish Harp conjoined; this was the device on the 6d. The 
Farthings were of pewter and of copper. Cromwell’s coins 
bore his head in profile on the obverse. Legend—“ Olivar 
D.G.R.P. Ang. Sco. Hib. etc. Pro.” Reverse—Crosses of St. 
George and of St. Andrew, Irish Harp, etc. Legend—Pax 
queritur Bello. In the latter part of the Protectorate, Crom- 
well caused his coins to be made with the mill and screw press, 
by that* celebrated artist Simon. They were exceedingly well 
executed, particularly the Crown and Half-crown. 
Charles I, on his accession, the new improvements of 
the mill and screw press were abandoned, as being so silent as 
to favour the operations of forgers, and the old noisy process of 
hammering was resumed. But in 1662 a more perfect form of 
the screw press was finally adopted. In this reign the figure of 
Britannia appeared for the first time on the coins. 
The general character of this device was suggested by the 
figure called Britannia on some of the Roman coins relating to 
Britain ; but Miss Stuart sat for the portrait. In 1664 Guineas 
were first struck=—20/-, made of Gold from the Guinea Coast of 
Africa. 
James II. In his reign, owing to the scarcity of silver, 
base money was made in Ireland, of cannon, hence called gun 
U 
