1723 Wood’s Hibernia Halfpenny. Martin 4.52-Gb.8, W-13460. Rarity-7 in this composition. Silver. AU-58 (PCGS).122.8 grains. Of the highest rarity, one of perhaps just two 1723 Woods Hibernia halfpence known in silver and apparently unique from these dies. Light blue and gold toning on the obverse intermingles over lustrous surfaces, while the reverse is more even gray, subtly highlighted with olive and deep rose, all with a bit less luster than on the obverse. The strike is sharp and well centered, and the visual appeal is excellent on both sides. A thin old hairline scratch is present in the left reverse field, from below the raised forearm toward the knee. A series of identical small marks are seen between her shoulder and the 1 (J) in the date. The shallow area of planchet irregularity in front of Hibernias face is as struck.<p><p>The original B.G. Johnson envelope calls this piece "Uncirculated with proof surface. Extremely rare." and prices this piece at $150, a very hefty price in the mid 1930s. While no earlier provenance information is available, the Brand Collection is as good a guess for the source of this as any (envelopes of coins from the Col. Green Collection were typed in red, not black). <p><p>While described as Rarity-7 in this composition in Syd Martins 2007 reference, after he acquired this piece in 2014, he labeled it "unique," a description that appears closer to the truth. Indeed, as an <em>entire type</em>, the 1723 Woods Hibernia halfpence in silver may not have a large enough population to descend into Rarity-7+ territory from Rarity-8. The Whitman book incorrectly states that the Ford specimen was from these dies; it is not, as described in the previous lot.<p><p>The opportunity to have the choice of two silver 1723 Woods Hibernia halfpence in a single auction appears not to have happened in more than 120 years, since the 1903 Murdoch sale.<p>.PCGS# 920819. NGC ID: F7J8.<strong>To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click<a href="https://stacksbowers.com/sydney-f-martin-collection/"target=’_blank’> here.</a></strong>.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex St. Louis Stamp and Coin Company (B.G. Johnson and Eric P. Newman); Eric P. Newman Collection; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society; Heritages sale of the Newman Collection, Part IV, May 2014, lot 30355.
