1722 Wood’s Hibernia farthing. Martin 1.1-A.1, W-12200. Rarity-5. D:G:REX, Harp Left. MS-63 BN (PCGS).62.9 grains. Medal turn. A classic rarity in the Wood’s series, an issue widely considered a pattern, with all known specimens the product of a single pair of dies. Very boldly struck, with a high relief beaded border around both sides and a superbly detailed portrait. In the context of this series, the medal turn die alignment is distinctive. The surfaces are chocolate brown with glossy luster and a good deal of mint color surrounding all design elements. A few scattered flecks of raised detritus are noted on the obverse, including one off the tip of the nose, another under the bust truncation, and a few near GE of GEORGIUS. The planchet is split, barely noticeable at R of GEORGIUS but more evident through the J (1) of the date. Some horizontal planchet striations are seen on either side of the torso of the reverse figure, harmless and as struck. The obverse is nearly ideally centered, trivially closer on the right rim than the left, while the reverse centering resembles other examples seen (like the Craige:72 specimen), with the right beads intersecting the rim and some unstruck area outside the beads at left. A rim cud above H is clearly visible, representing a somewhat advanced die state. This is a very rare variety, with just five examples certified in all grades by PCGS and just eight examples found in major collections by Syd Martin. The lovely Gem Craige example, probably the finest known, brought $21,150 in 2013.PCGS Population: 2; 2 finer (MS-65 BN).From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s sale of the Robison Collection, February 1982, lot 39.
