1724 1/2P Hibernia - DEI above Head

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,819 XF45 11-08-2013 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1724 Wood's Hibernia Halfpenny features the variety designation "DEI above Head," indicating that the word DEI (from DEI GRATIA, "By the Grace of God") is positioned directly above the head of George I's portrait on the obverse die. This placement creates a distinctive die variety where the beginning of the royal legend starts at a higher position relative to the bust than on standard dies. The obverse shows the laureate bust of George I facing right with the legend arranged so that DEI appears above the crown of the head, while the reverse displays the seated Hibernia with her harp and the HIBERNIA legend dated 1724. The positioning of legend text relative to the portrait is one of the key diagnostic features used to identify die varieties in the Wood's Hibernia series. Different dies the legend starting point at various positions around the circumference, and "DEI above Head" precisely locates this variety's starting point. The 1724 date marks the terminal year of the Hibernia coinage under Wood's patent. This specific die variety, with its unusual legend placement, may represent a later die preparation when existing patterns were being varied, or it may simply reflect a different die cutter's approach to laying out the circumferential legend. The coin is struck in copper at approximately 28mm diameter at Wood's Bristol works.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The DEI above Head variety is a distinctive die type from the final year of production, making it scarcer than many earlier varieties.

Cross References

PCGS #45379; NGC #108090; Breen; Nelson; cf. PCGS #190 (standard 1724), PCGS #197 (Date Below)