Undated (ca. 1663-1672) St. Patrick farthing. Breen-210, Martin 1c.4-Ba.5, W-11520. Silver. EF-45+ (PCGS).55.6 grains. Choice, lustrous antique gray surfaces show gold, rose, and pale blue toning on both sides, radiating out from the centers and richest at the peripheries. The devices are a contrasting shade of light silver gray, offering exceptional aesthetic appeal. Well struck denticles frame much of both sides, and the obverse shows some unstruck area outside the border at the upper right. The reverse field exhibits raised die finish lines running vertically on either side of St. Patrick, likely left in an attempt to repair the swelling that is noted at ESCA. Further raised die lines run parallel to the back of the kneeling king, and a single prominent one extends above the harp to beneath the left base of the crown. The surfaces are particularly fresh and free of distractions, with a natural area of shallow granularity visible right of the mitre and a single light hairline at the back of the king. The color, luster, strike, and preservation come together ideally on this exceptionally nice specimen. Martin recorded four examples in silver from this die pair: the superb Newman coin, one in the British Museum, a low grade ground find he graded Good, and this one, known to Martin from its plate in the April 1951 New Netherlands sale. The reverse legend of this variety is distinctive, with no space between QVIESCAT and PLEBS. With four known in silver, this die pair is tied for the second most common silver St. Patrick variety recorded by Martin; one other variety has an identical population, and Martins 1d.1-Ba.11 makes up a surprising 17 of the 41 total silver St. Patricks recorded. Most examples of this enigmatic coinage show significant wear, but this is among the half dozen finest certified by PCGS.PCGS Population: 1; 5 finer (MS-62 finest).From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stacks sale of the Laird Park Collection, May 1976, lot 22; Stacks sale of June 1973, lot 784; New Netherlands Coin Companys 33rd sale, April 1951, lot 778.
