New Jersey "St. Patrick" Coins

About This Coin

The St. Patrick coinage consists of copper farthings (quarter pennies) and halfpennies bearing the image of King David playing a harp on the obverse and St. Patrick driving serpents from Ireland on the reverse. A distinctive feature is the brass plug inserted on the obverse beneath the crown. Although their exact origin is debated — traditionally attributed to Ireland but possibly struck in England — these coins circulated widely in colonial New Jersey after a 1682 act granted them legal tender status at a value of one halfpenny. The series includes rare silver and unique gold strikings, as well as notable varieties including the Halo (nimbus around St. Patrick) and No C in QUIESCAT (die error omitting the C). John Martin's 2018 study identified 197 die varieties.