Mark Newby’s St. Patrick Coppers - halfpenny vs farthing
MidLifeCrisis
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In my opinion, St. Patrick coppers are among the most interesting coins in the early American colonial era of coinage.
Originally minted for use in Ireland, Mark Newby, an English Quaker merchant in Dublin acquired a large supply of these coins which he took with him in 1681 when he emigrated to West New Jersey (New Jersey was divided into separate Eastern and Western colonies from 1676-1702).
These coppers come in both large planchet and small planchet varieties, which numismatists have traditionally called a halfpenny and a farthing. On May 18, 1682 the General Free Assembly of West New Jersey granted Newby's coppers legal tender status and allowed them to circulate as small change at the rate of a halfpenny, replacing wampum. Because of this, colonial collectors have historically assumed that Newby brought with him the large planchet coins. Indeed, contemporary sources only mention halfpence.
Contradicting this, In the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, Q. David Bowers states that the halfpenny "seems to have no connection with West Jersey." He says the farthing "likely represents the coins that circulated in the colony of New Jersey."
Through extensive research, Philip Mossman has demonstrated that the weight of the smaller coin was too heavy for the normal 2:1 ratio of halfpenny to farthing. He concluded that both coins were halfpenny tokens. Most probably, the larger and heavier coins (averaging about 135.7 grains) were produced earlier. These coins are found in only about ten varieties. In all there are about five obverse dies and six reverse dies used in nine or ten combinations. This suggests a rather brief minting period that could at a maximum have only extend over the life of the five obverse dies. It also appears these dies were in simultaneous or at least overlapping use based on the obverse and reverse combinations listed by Vlack (both obverses 1 and 4 are found with reverse B and obverses 2, 3 and 4 share reverse C). Extrapolating from what we know about later colonial American minting operations such as the Massachusetts coppers, these eleven dies would have lasted no more than one year (at the Massachusetts mint in 1787 eleven dies were cut and used to make about 90,900 cents and in 1788 twenty five dies were produced to mint some 210,000 cents).
The smaller planchet coins seem to have been much more extensively minted as over 120 die varieties exist. Such a massive die production would clearly have kept the mint in operation for at least two to three years. Not only were these smaller sized coins easier to mint but they were also more profitable. Mossman has calculated that based on the cost of operations and supplies the minting of the large planchet 135.7 grain halfpenny left the minters a profit of 49.1%. By switching to the smaller planchet 92.3 grain halfpenny minting profits were increased to 119.1%.
I think both sizes circulated here as halfpennies and I like Philip Mossman's explanation for the different size coins.
By the way, QDB rated the St. Pats Halfpenny as URS-10, which is roughly Sheldon Rarity-3. I thought they were more like R-5. Regardless, Newby's St. Patrick coppers filled an important need in local commerce and remained in circulation throughout the colonial period. In fact, in 1881 the eminent New Jersey copper specialist Edward Marris stated that St. Patrick coppers continued to be found in change in western New Jersey into the early 19th century.
Of course, this post is just an excuse to show off the St. Patrick Halfpenny I just bought.
This one is the Vlack 1-B, W-11540 variety, Ex Stack's October 1984 sale of the Richard Picker Collection.
It’s the second St. Patrick copper I’ve owned. My previous piece, highlighted in LeeG's excellent Numismatic Treasures thread was a significantly higher grade “farthing”. But I think my new Picker “Halfpenny” is a nice replacement and represents the type quite adequately in my collection!
Sources:
Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, by Q. David Bowers
"St. Patrick Coppers 1674-1675 (1681): Introduction", by Louis Jordan on the University of Notre Dame, Department of Special Collections website
Originally minted for use in Ireland, Mark Newby, an English Quaker merchant in Dublin acquired a large supply of these coins which he took with him in 1681 when he emigrated to West New Jersey (New Jersey was divided into separate Eastern and Western colonies from 1676-1702).
These coppers come in both large planchet and small planchet varieties, which numismatists have traditionally called a halfpenny and a farthing. On May 18, 1682 the General Free Assembly of West New Jersey granted Newby's coppers legal tender status and allowed them to circulate as small change at the rate of a halfpenny, replacing wampum. Because of this, colonial collectors have historically assumed that Newby brought with him the large planchet coins. Indeed, contemporary sources only mention halfpence.
Contradicting this, In the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, Q. David Bowers states that the halfpenny "seems to have no connection with West Jersey." He says the farthing "likely represents the coins that circulated in the colony of New Jersey."
Through extensive research, Philip Mossman has demonstrated that the weight of the smaller coin was too heavy for the normal 2:1 ratio of halfpenny to farthing. He concluded that both coins were halfpenny tokens. Most probably, the larger and heavier coins (averaging about 135.7 grains) were produced earlier. These coins are found in only about ten varieties. In all there are about five obverse dies and six reverse dies used in nine or ten combinations. This suggests a rather brief minting period that could at a maximum have only extend over the life of the five obverse dies. It also appears these dies were in simultaneous or at least overlapping use based on the obverse and reverse combinations listed by Vlack (both obverses 1 and 4 are found with reverse B and obverses 2, 3 and 4 share reverse C). Extrapolating from what we know about later colonial American minting operations such as the Massachusetts coppers, these eleven dies would have lasted no more than one year (at the Massachusetts mint in 1787 eleven dies were cut and used to make about 90,900 cents and in 1788 twenty five dies were produced to mint some 210,000 cents).
The smaller planchet coins seem to have been much more extensively minted as over 120 die varieties exist. Such a massive die production would clearly have kept the mint in operation for at least two to three years. Not only were these smaller sized coins easier to mint but they were also more profitable. Mossman has calculated that based on the cost of operations and supplies the minting of the large planchet 135.7 grain halfpenny left the minters a profit of 49.1%. By switching to the smaller planchet 92.3 grain halfpenny minting profits were increased to 119.1%.
I think both sizes circulated here as halfpennies and I like Philip Mossman's explanation for the different size coins.
By the way, QDB rated the St. Pats Halfpenny as URS-10, which is roughly Sheldon Rarity-3. I thought they were more like R-5. Regardless, Newby's St. Patrick coppers filled an important need in local commerce and remained in circulation throughout the colonial period. In fact, in 1881 the eminent New Jersey copper specialist Edward Marris stated that St. Patrick coppers continued to be found in change in western New Jersey into the early 19th century.
Of course, this post is just an excuse to show off the St. Patrick Halfpenny I just bought.
This one is the Vlack 1-B, W-11540 variety, Ex Stack's October 1984 sale of the Richard Picker Collection.
It’s the second St. Patrick copper I’ve owned. My previous piece, highlighted in LeeG's excellent Numismatic Treasures thread was a significantly higher grade “farthing”. But I think my new Picker “Halfpenny” is a nice replacement and represents the type quite adequately in my collection!
Sources:
Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, by Q. David Bowers
"St. Patrick Coppers 1674-1675 (1681): Introduction", by Louis Jordan on the University of Notre Dame, Department of Special Collections website
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Comments
i have always liked the gold splashers on these
www.brunkauctions.com
<< <i>nice write-up!
i have always liked the gold splashers on these >>
Thanks!
Yes, these coins are just "different".
Tom
<< <i>I'm still trying to get my head around the ANS Newby book. There are a number of CNL articles on top of that. It is an extraordinarily complex subject. >>
I bought the ANS Newby's St. Patrick Coinage book a few months ago, but I haven't even started on it. Adding the Picker St. Pats to my collection has motivated me to read it though!
Did these pieces every saw use in Ireland at all?
Dennis
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In truth, this was really an interesting post and thread. Thanks a lot!
So, how many of these toys are known to exist?
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
1. The history of Mark Newbie (also sometimes spelled Newby) and the other Quaker Colonist's migration to West Jersey for religious (and economic) freedom is a fascinating story and the fact that Newbie had the foresight to anticipate the need for coinage, acquire a hoard to bring over, position these "halfpennies" that he brought over to be the coin of the realm and voted in at the second West Jersey Assembly, and finally quickly rise to be a community leader and Assemblyman speaks to how shrewd and industrious he was.
2. The holly grail of St. Patrick research questions is where, when and why were they manufactured. The debate is heated and answers range from 1640 to 1681. Scholarly authors through the ages have speculated everything from manufacture at the Vatican to pay Catholic soldiers fighting the Cromwellian Protestants, to Irish communion tokens, to manufactured in Charles I's reign to signify religious reconciliation but then sent underground in hiding after his execution until Charles II's return reign, to an experimental coinage manufactured by an English inventor to show how to mass produce coins with brass (not gold) splashers, reeded edges and slight variations in the devices for each issue. Another theory is that Peter Blondeau, the famous Paris Mint and Tower Mint Mint Master was called upon by Lord Ormond of Ireland to create a semi official coin for Ireland.......the list goes on.....
3. Following on to the second to last point on three above, there are something like 200 variaties of so-called farthings. It is harder to find an R-5 than an R-6 or higher.
4. Most people agree that the so-called Half Pennies were minted at a different time with different metal than the so-called "farthings". And they maybe totally unrelated. And no one can explain the so-called Silver Shillings.
5. Prices have skyrocketed on these coins in the last decade. You could have bought a choice VF Farthing for under $200 dollars 10 or 15 years ago.
6. There is a book in the works to categorize, explain and attribute these coins....I for one would greatly welcome it.
7. In the meantime, the best reference work for attribution of Farthings is the 2003 9th Annual C-4 Catalog Sale written by Tom Rinaldo selling the Griffee collection (coinciding with the beginning of price escalation). For a historical reference, the ANS COAC is a great starting point. For attributing Halfpennies, the relevant Ford Sale is a good tool. Ford sold about 90+ Farthings privately decades before the Ford Sales.
8. The rare "Nimbus" variety with the ultra-rare hallo surrounding St. Patricks Miter is a very very cool looking coin.
9. Based on US archeological finds, it seems fairly clear to this collector that the Farthings and not Halfpennies were brought over by Newbie and legislated into farthings.
10. The differing array of beasties that St. Patrick is chasing away beyond the proverbial snake in the lower left portion of St. Patrick farthing side is pretty fascinating..birds, marletts, griffens, serpents, snakes...a true parade of horribles.
11. A full type set would include a regular halfpenny and Farthing, a Silver "shilling", a Nimbus variety and a Quivsat legend blunder.......the last three will set you back a few dollars.
12. The final word on these coins/tokens is far from settled.
Not my most coherent post, but maybe more of a ramble of fun facts. A great series to collect.
Best,
nova caesarea
<< <i>Mmmmmm.........Mid Life dropped me a note to chime in with a few thoughts on this thread. So here are some random observations about St. Pats.
1. The history of Mark Newbie (also sometimes spelled Newby) and the other Quaker Colonist's migration to West Jersey for religious (and economic) freedom is a fascinating story and the fact that Newbie had the foresight to anticipate the need for coinage, acquire a hoard to bring over, position these "halfpennies" that he brought over to be the coin of the realm and voted in at the second West Jersey Assembly, and finally quickly rise to be a community leader and Assemblyman speaks to how shrewd and industrious he was.
2. The holly grail of St. Patrick research questions is where, when and why were they manufactured. The debate is heated and answers range from 1640 to 1681. Scholarly authors through the ages have speculated everything from manufacture at the Vatican to pay Catholic soldiers fighting the Cromwellian Protestants, to Irish communion tokens, to manufactured in Charles I's reign to signify religious reconciliation but then sent underground in hiding after his execution until Charles II's return reign, to an experimental coinage manufactured by an English inventor to show how to mass produce coins with brass (not gold) splashers, reeded edges and slight variations in the devices for each issue. Another theory is that Peter Blondeau, the famous Paris Mint and Tower Mint Mint Master was called upon by Lord Ormond of Ireland to create a semi official coin for Ireland.......the list goes on.....
3. Following on to the second to last point on three above, there are something like 200 variaties of so-called farthings. It is harder to find an R-5 than an R-6 or higher.
4. Most people agree that the so-called Half Pennies were minted at a different time with different metal than the so-called "farthings". And they maybe totally unrelated. And no one can explain the so-called Silver Shillings.
5. Prices have skyrocketed on these coins in the last decade. You could have bought a choice VF Farthing for under $200 dollars 10 or 15 years ago.
6. There is a book in the works to categorize, explain and attribute these coins....I for one would greatly welcome it.
7. In the meantime, the best reference work for attribution of Farthings is the 2003 9th Annual C-4 Catalog Sale written by Tom Rinaldo selling the Griffee collection (coinciding with the beginning of price escalation). For a historical reference, the ANS COAC is a great starting point. For attributing Halfpennies, the relevant Ford Sale is a good tool. Ford sold about 90+ Farthings privately decades before the Ford Sales.
8. The rare "Nimbus" variety with the ultra-rare hallo surrounding St. Patricks Miter is a very very cool looking coin.
9. Based on US archeological finds, it seems fairly clear to this collector that the Farthings and not Halfpennies were brought over by Newbie and legislated into farthings.
10. The differing array of beasties that St. Patrick is chasing away beyond the proverbial snake in the lower left portion of St. Patrick farthing side is pretty fascinating..birds, marletts, griffens, serpents, snakes...a true parade of horribles.
11. A full type set would include a regular halfpenny and Farthing, a Silver "shilling", a Nimbus variety and a Quivsat legend blunder.......the last three will set you back a few dollars.
12. The final word on these coins/tokens is far from settled.
Not my most coherent post, but maybe more of a ramble of fun facts. A great series to collect.
Best,
nova caesarea >>
What a great post!
<< <i>What a great post! >>
I agree! Thanks novacaesarea!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Will post my first purchase as soon as I find a nice example.