1724/3 1P Rosa Americana - Dei Gratia Silvered

Coin Details

Auction Record

$63,250 GEM PR 05-01-2005 Stack's

Description

This Rosa Americana Penny displays an overdate of 1724 over 1723, visible as remnants of the underlying "3" beneath the "4" in the date, combined with the DEI GRATIA obverse legend and a silvered surface finish. The coin represents a convergence of three collectible attributes: the overdate variety, the full DEI GRATIA legend, and the special silvered surface treatment. The overdate occurred when a 1723 die was re-engraved with a new date by punching a "4" over the existing "3," a common cost-saving practice in eighteenth-century coinage that avoided the expense of cutting an entirely new die. The obverse features the laureate bust of George I with GEORGIVS DEI GRATIA REX, while the reverse shows the crowned Tudor rose with ROSA AMERICANA VTILE DVLCI. The silvered finish indicates this was produced as a presentation or special collector piece rather than for general circulation, with a thin layer of silver applied over the Bath metal planchet. The 1724/3 overdate is one of the more dramatic overdates in the colonial American series, as the style difference between the "3" and "4" makes the overdate clearly visible on well-preserved examples. This coin documents both the economic pressures on Wood's operation (reusing dies) and the continued practice of creating premium presentation pieces even as the Rosa Americana venture was nearing its end.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. The combination of overdate, DEI GRATIA legend, and silvered finish makes this one of the rarest and most desirable Rosa Americana penny varieties.

Cross References

PCGS #144; NGC #108063; Martin attribution; Breen; overdate 1724/3; cf. PCGS #140 (1724 Pattern Twopence)