Woods Hibernia?

darktone

This is what appears to be 1723 woods hibernia farthing. It's 2.1 centimeters across I think that's the size of a farthing? Whats it worth and are there any varieties to look for? thanks mike

obverse

reverse

itsnotjustme

There is a 3 over 2 variety.

I found one with my metal detector as a kid 25 years ago.

Placid

I have one. It's a f-30 I think I paid like $30 for it 15 years ago.
If I remember right they are in the redbook. If not ask in the world coin section.

Mark

Darkone:

I just purchased a book, The Coinage of William Wood 1722-1723 by Philip Nelson and so haven't yet read it. (This is the Durst reprint; the orginal was published in 1903.) But a quick skim of the book shows two types of farthings for 1723, namely one with GEORGIUS D G REX on the obverse (this is characterized as a pattern) and the other with GEORGIUS DEI GRATIA REX on the obverse. These are the only farthings listed, but do keep in mind that the book is 99 years old. Unfortunately I can't see where the book lists a diameter. It does give the weight of the farthings as 60 or 64 grs.

For what it's worth, I think that the conventional wisdom is that the Hibernia's did not circulate in the U.S. colonies. But that conventional wisdom seems to be undergoing some revision as a result of the recent discoveries of more of these coins buried along with other coins that did circulate in the colonies. Recent issues of the Colonial Newsletter have basically convinced me that at least some of these coins did, indeed, circulate in the U.S. colonies. Regardless, the story of what William Wood had to go through to obtain his patent for issuing his money (bribing the King's mistress, who was rightfully worried that she would not be provided for if/when the King died) as well as the reception the coins received in Ireland (extremely poor thanks to Jonathan Swift) is truly interesting.

Mark