1670s NJ 1/4P Saint Patrick, Silver MS(PCGS#45)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1559

Grade

AU55

Price

19,200

Lot Description

A wonderful and simply lovely St. Patrick farthing in silver. The obverse and reverse are toned in warm, original olive-gray with lighter underlying gold shining forth nicely from the peripheries. The center of the obverse is sharp. King David's hand is clear and all the harp strings are individually outlined. The letters in the encircling legend are bold and the crown above shows plenty of inner detail. Central reverse is not quite as sharp, with some softness on St. Patrick's figure. The church to his right and the snakes and other creatures to his left are sharp, the encircling legend is complete and crisp. There is a full border of denticles on both sides, broadest at left reverse. Much of the softly frosted finish remains, the fields bright and somewhat reflective, although not quite semi-prooflike. Some natural planchet pitting in the centers is noted, also at the letter S in PLEBS, an old, thin scratch below the preceding letters EB and dull nick at the border following this word are the only post-production blemishes of note. None of these features are really important in light of the overall strong quality of this piece.<p>Martin 1d.1-Ba.11 is the most available of the 15 St. Patrick farthing die varieties known in silver, but still rare in absolute sense with just a few dozen examples extant. Martin estimates that no more than 100 silver St. Patrick farthings exist in total. The finest from these dies is probably the impressive Ted Craige example graded PCGS AU-58+ that we sold in November 2012 for $80,500. The present coin is not quite as sharp but is still a remarkably high quality piece and would almost certainly be included in a Condition Census were one to be compiled. In any event, an outstanding silver St. Patrick farthing, always a classy and desirable colonial type coin.