1766 Farthing William Pitt

Coin Details

Auction Record

$58,750 AU55BN 08-09-2016 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1766 William Pitt Farthing in copper is a political token honoring William Pitt the Elder, First Earl of Chatham, for his staunch opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765. The Stamp Act, which imposed direct taxation on the American colonies without their consent, provoked intense colonial resistance and became a rallying point for the movement toward American independence. Pitt argued forcefully in Parliament for repeal of the Stamp Act, declaring that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies, and his advocacy made him enormously popular in America. The obverse of this token features a bust of Pitt facing right, typically with the legend THE RESTORER OF COMMERCE or a similar tribute, while the reverse shows a ship, symbolizing the transatlantic trade that Pitt championed by opposing the burdensome taxation. The ship may also reference the maritime commerce that was being disrupted by colonial boycotts of British goods in response to the Stamp Act. The farthing denomination, the smallest in the series, was struck in copper at a small diameter. Pitt Tokens represent some of the earliest examples of political numismatics in American history, predating the Revolution by a decade but already expressing the colonial sentiment that would eventually lead to independence. The tokens were produced in England but were intended for an American audience that revered Pitt as a champion of their rights.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The copper farthing is available but not common. It is the most affordable entry point into the Pitt Token series.

Cross References

PCGS #232; NGC #108121; Breen 252; Stamp Act repealed 1766; cf. PCGS #235 (Silvered), PCGS #236 (Half Penny Copper)