I've not made a post about coins for ages so time to rectify that! This is not something that is in my collection but is what I call my 'most wanted' - which is perhaps the coin you most want but are unlikely to ever actually get.
What got me into Numismatic collecting having been a pure stacker to begin with was my love of history and there is nothing better than holding a 400 piece of genuine history in your hand with so many stories to tell
This silver piece was struck during the only time that England has been a republic and not by monarchy. This period was officially known as the Commonwealth of England.
It seems bizarre to some that there is a statue of Oliver Cromwell outside of parliament given that he was actually a puritanical religious despotic dictator and no better than any kings or queens that went before him. He became king in all but name. However he's there because he was the person who gave parliament ultimate power in the UK rather than absolute monarchy. When the monarchy was restored after his sons death, it never had the power it once did.
This is such a fascinating period and the history of England could have been so different if the Commonwealth had taken hold.
This piece is not totally out of reach but likely to set anyone back around £4200, about 4 times the amount I have ever splashed out on a single coin!
Everyone must have that 'most wanted' coin themselves, what is yours?