1723 Farth Hibernia, DEI.GRATIA, BN MS(PCGS#176)

November 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

4053

Grade

AU58+BN

Price

900

Lot Description

Famous NN60 Discovery Coin GEORGIUS over GEORAIUS 1723 Wood’s Hibernia Farthing. Martin 3.5-Bc.6, W-12530. Rarity-5. G over A in GEORGIUS, DEI.GRATIA. AU-58+ (PCGS). 59.0 grains. Discovered and cataloged by Walter Breen for New Netherlands’ 60th sale, a sale John W. Adams described as “a strong contender for best executed catalogue ever.” Breen described this coin as follows: GEORGIUS over GEORAIUS, the G over A blunder plain to the naked eye. Rev. Eleven harpstrings. Extremely Fine or so and unevenly struck upon a faintly granular flan, the granularity most evident at the knee area of the rev. figure. A splendid little coin with boldly defined and mostly complete borders, the surfaces a highly attractive golden-brown. A spur-like planchet flaw at rim just before O of GEORGIUS (as made) affects the feel of this piece, not the appearance. RR; the first that we have handled. Plate (obverse area enlarged). The reason for the rarity of this variety, aside from probable early discovery and rejection of the obverse die, is a heavy arc break at bottom obverse joining EX of REX to EORG and severe die crumbling which solidly affixes the head to DEI. This coin remains splendid; it is glossy, with some luster, boldest at the reverse periphery. The details are bold and the arc die crack at the base of the portrait is impressive. The repunched letter is plain to the naked eye. This die state is a bit later than Martin’s MDS and a bit earlier than his LDS. Provenance: From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from New Netherlands Coin Company’s 60th Sale, December 1968, lot 279. PCGS #176 Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.