1760 1760/00 1/2 P Voce Populi Crosslet After Voce Half Penny

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,585 AU53 07-27-2013 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1760 Voce Populi Halfpenny combines two distinctive features: a possible overdate reading 1760/00 (suggesting the date was re-engraved or corrected from an earlier attempt) and a crosslet punctuation mark after the word VOCE on the reverse. The obverse displays the laureate bust facing right with the date that shows evidence of recutting or overdating, while the reverse features the seated Hibernia with her harp and the legend VOCE (crosslet) POPULI, where a small cross-shaped decorative stop appears between the two words of the motto. The crosslet punctuation is an unusual embellishment not found on most other Voce Populi varieties, suggesting this die was prepared with extra decorative attention or by a different hand than the standard dies. The 1760/00 overdate reading, if confirmed, could connect this variety to the famous blundered "1700" date version, suggesting that the die cutter initially created a "00" ending and then corrected it to "60." This would mean the "1700" blundered date and this corrected "1760/00" variety share a common origin in the same die-cutting error. The coin is struck in copper at approximately 28mm diameter. This variety, catalogued relatively recently by comparison with the major traditional types, represents the ongoing discovery and documentation of new die varieties within the Voce Populi series, a process that continues to this day as researchers examine coins with increasing precision.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. This recently catalogued variety is known in small numbers. The combination of overdate and crosslet makes it a distinctive addition to the Voce Populi series.

Cross References

PCGS #517451; possible connection to PCGS #274 ("1700" blundered date); cf. PCGS #262 (No P), PCGS #268 (P Below)