1723 Farth Hibernia - D:G:REX

Coin Details

Auction Record

$5,750 MS64 05-28-2008 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1723 Wood's Hibernia Farthing features the abbreviated obverse legend D:G:REX (Dei Gratia Rex, "By the Grace of God, King"), with colons separating the abbreviated words. The farthing was the smallest denomination in Wood's Hibernia coinage series, worth one-quarter of a penny. The obverse displays the laureate bust of George I facing right with the D:G:REX legend, while the reverse shows the seated Hibernia holding her harp with the HIBERNIA inscription and the 1723 date. The abbreviated legend form distinguishes this variety from the DEI.GRATIA version, which spells out the Latin phrase more fully. Such legend variations are important die identification markers in the Hibernia series, where multiple die combinations were produced during each year's production run. The farthing denomination, being the smallest and least valuable coin in the series, was struck in smaller quantities than the halfpenny. At approximately 22mm in diameter, the farthing provided a visible contrast to the larger halfpenny and would have been useful for the smallest commercial transactions in colonial commerce. Like other Wood's Hibernia coins, farthings originally intended for Ireland were redirected to the American colonies after Irish opposition to the coinage succeeded in 1724-1725. Colonial Americans used these tiny coppers alongside other small-denomination pieces in their daily commerce, and surviving examples document the complex monetary circulation patterns of eighteenth-century colonial America.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Hibernia farthings are less common than halfpennies due to lower production volumes. The D:G:REX variety is one of the recognized 1723 farthing types.

Cross References

PCGS #173; NGC #108061; Breen; Nelson; Martin attribution; cf. PCGS #176 (DEI.GRATIA), PCGS #179 (Silver)