1722 Penny Rosa Americana - GEORGIVS Copper

Coin Details

Auction Record

$27,600 AU55 05-28-2008 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1722 Rosa Americana Penny in copper features the GEORGIVS legend on the obverse, identifying King George I by his Latinized first name in a relatively abbreviated form compared to the full royal titles used on some other varieties. The obverse displays the laureate bust of the monarch facing right, while the reverse shows the crowned Tudor rose with ROSA AMERICANA VTILE DVLCI. The penny denomination was the middle value in the three-denomination Rosa Americana series, falling between the halfpenny and twopence. This example is struck in copper rather than Bath metal, distinguishing it from the standard alloy pieces. William Wood's Bristol mint produced these coins under a royal patent for circulation in the American colonies, with 1722 being the first year of regular production. The GEORGIVS obverse legend is one of several lettering variants known for the 1722 penny, each reflecting different die preparations during the production run. The series was intended to provide the colonies with an official, standardized small-denomination coinage to replace the hodgepodge of worn foreign coins, local tokens, and commodity money then in use. Despite this practical purpose, colonial resistance to the coins limited their circulation, and many surviving examples show minimal wear. The copper composition gives this variety a different patina from Bath metal pieces, often developing a rich brown or chocolate color.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Copper strikings are less common than Bath metal for this date. The GEORGIVS variety is collected as a distinct type within the 1722 penny series.

Cross References

PCGS #108; NGC #108056; Martin attribution; Breen; cf. PCGS #113 (UTILE), PCGS #110 (VTILEDVLC)