1722 Penny Rosa Americana - GEORGIVS/VTIL

Coin Details

Auction Record

$49,938 PR65 08-02-2012 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1722 Rosa Americana Penny combines the GEORGIVS obverse with a VTIL reverse, representing a specific combination of die elements that makes this variety distinct. The abbreviation VTIL on the reverse is a truncated form of the standard VTILE DVLCI motto, suggesting either that the die space was insufficient for the complete legend or that the engraver left the inscription incomplete. The obverse features the laureate bust of George I facing right with the GEORGIVS legend, while the reverse bears the crowned Tudor rose accompanied by this abbreviated motto. The piece was struck in Bath metal, William Wood's proprietary alloy of approximately 75% copper, 20% zinc, and 5% silver, which gives Rosa Americana coins their characteristic golden color. The 1722 pennies exhibit considerable die variety, as Wood's Bristol works evidently prepared multiple sets of dies during the inaugural year of production, and errors, abbreviations, and variations in lettering are found across many of them. This GEORGIVS/VTIL combination documents the somewhat informal quality control that characterized the production, where dies with imperfect or incomplete legends were used rather than discarded. For collectors of colonial American coins, these legend varieties provide an engaging area of specialization that combines historical significance with the satisfaction of identifying specific die states and combinations.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The GEORGIVS/VTIL die combination is one of the less frequently encountered 1722 penny varieties. Its unusual abbreviated reverse legend makes it a distinctive collector piece.

Cross References

PCGS #152; Martin attribution; Breen; cf. PCGS #108 (GEORGIVS Copper), PCGS #113 (UTILE), PCGS #110 (VTILEDVLC)