1723 Wood's Hibernia Halfpenny. Martin 4.57-Fa.4, W-13470. Rarity-3. MS-63 BN (PCGS).

116.7 grains. A rich brown example with brightly reflective fields. Sharp in the centers, all of King George's hair detail is full and Hibernia's features and figure are distinct. Boldly double struck on both sides. Struck slightly off center, but the border of denticles is complete on each side and there is extra metal showing on places on the rims on both sides. Traces of the original first strike's denticles can be seen around the reverse rim at the lower right. Struck from a broken reverse die, breaks from the rim above the space between the letters BE in HIBERNIA down to engage the tops of ERN. Described as a Proof by F.C.C. Boyd. Nelson called this variety N.5, and also called it a pattern issue because, unlike the regular halfpence of 1723 (his N.8), N.5 has a stop in front of and after the word HIBERNIA on the reverse. There are, however, almost as many N.5s known as there are N.8s, so this is apparently not a conclusive diagnostic.

PCGS# 921254. NGC ID: F7J4.

From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex E.H.A. sale, February 2, 1914, lot 13; F.C.C. Boyd estate; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part VII, January 2005, lot 39; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006. Boyd believed that this coin was also ex Philip Nelson.