1723 Farth Hibernia - DEI.GRATIA

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,406 MS66 05-16-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1723 Wood's Hibernia Farthing bears the fuller obverse legend DEI.GRATIA, spelling out the Latin phrase "By the Grace of God" more completely than the abbreviated D:G: form used on companion varieties. The obverse shows the laureate bust of George I facing right with DEI.GRATIA REX, while the reverse displays the seated Hibernia with her harp and the HIBERNIA legend dated 1723. The fuller legend takes up more die space and creates a different visual balance on the small farthing-sized coin. The DEI.GRATIA form is considered the more formal rendering of the royal title and may indicate a different die cutter or a different phase of die production from the abbreviated D:G:REX varieties. The farthing, at approximately 22mm in copper, was the smallest denomination in Wood's Hibernia series. William Wood produced farthings alongside halfpennies under his 1722 patent from George I, though the farthings were evidently struck in smaller numbers. The DEI.GRATIA variety is one of several recognized die types for the 1723 Hibernia farthing and is catalogued separately in major references. When Jonathan Swift excoriated Wood's coinage in the "Drapier's Letters," he made no distinction between denominations — all of Wood's copper coins were targets of his satirical fury. The farthings thus share the same controversial history as the more common halfpennies, having been redirected from Ireland to the American colonies after the successful public campaign against them.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The DEI.GRATIA variety is one of the recognized 1723 farthing legend variants, somewhat less common than the D:G:REX form.

Cross References

PCGS #176; NGC #108079; Breen; Nelson; Martin; cf. PCGS #173 (D:G:REX), PCGS #179 (Silver), PCGS #975 (Silver Pattern)