1760 1/2 P Voce Populi - P at Face Half Penny

Coin Details

Auction Record

$7,800 MS62BN 05-08-2022 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1760 Voce Populi Halfpenny features the letter P positioned near the face of the bust on the obverse, an unusual placement that distinguishes this variety from the more common "P Below" type where the P appears beneath the bust. The obverse shows the laureate bust facing right with the P placed forward near the face or chin area, while the reverse displays the seated Hibernia holding a harp with the VOCE POPULI legend. This placement of the P at the face rather than below the bust may indicate a different die preparation or a different engraver's hand, and it creates a visually distinctive variety that collectors readily identify. The coin is struck in copper at approximately 28mm diameter, consistent with the standard Voce Populi halfpenny format. The "P at Face" variety is one of the scarcer types in the Voce Populi series, indicating it was produced from fewer die pairs or for a shorter production run than the "P Below" or "No P" varieties. Voce Populi coins represent an important chapter in Irish-American numismatic history, produced in Ireland for export to the American colonies during a period when both countries were chafing under British commercial restrictions. The VOCE POPULI sentiment, while not intentionally revolutionary when the coins were produced in 1760, would acquire new resonance in the following decade as colonial Americans increasingly demanded a political voice.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The "P at Face" variety is scarcer than the "P Below" and "No P" types. Fewer examples are available in the marketplace.

Cross References

PCGS #271; Breen; Nelson; cf. PCGS #262 (No P), PCGS #268 (P Below), PCGS #265 (VOOE)