1760 Voce Populi Halfpenny - No P, 1700 Date

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,800 • Fine Details NGC • 12-2023 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Combining two errors on a single die, this Voce Populi halfpenny variety reads "1700" instead of "1760" — the die cutter omitted the digit "6," creating a date that predates the actual series by sixty years — and simultaneously lacks the "P" initial found on most other varieties. Cataloged as W-13910 and Nelson 5, the blundered date makes this one of the most popular varieties in the entire Voce Populi series, appealing to both colonial token specialists and error coin collectors who appreciate the unambiguous nature of a die-cut blunder that survived into production coinage. Rated R.5 on the colonial rarity scale, this scarce piece represents a desirable crossover variety bridging the colonial and error collecting communities. The Voce Populi ("By the Voice of the People") halfpence were produced in Dublin, Ireland, around 1760, featuring a laureate bust on the obverse and Hibernia seated with a harp on the reverse. The "1700" date error likely resulted from the die sinker working hurriedly or inattentively, cutting the digits in sequence and simply omitting the "6" — an error that was either not noticed or not deemed worth the expense of discarding the die and cutting a replacement. This piece belongs to the Pre-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1616-1766) series and demonstrates how production errors on colonial tokens, far from diminishing their numismatic value, enhance collectibility by adding layers of interest and narrative.

Rarity Notes

R.5. Scarce. Desirable crossover variety for colonial and error coin collectors.

Cross References

W-13910, Nelson 5