1723 Wood’s Hibernia halfpenny. Martin 4.76-Gd.2, W-13570. Rarity-5. SP-64 BN (PCGS).125.4 grains. An impressive, special striking of this issue, offering superlative eye appeal and exquisite detail on both sides. The appearance is distinctive, lightly reflective and smooth as glass in the fields, resembling other British Proof copper of this era. Abundant mint color persists, especially around obverse design elements, and iridescent toning of pale blue and other colors is found atop the rich medium brown fields. A spot of dark toning beneath X of REX on the obverse serves as an identifier in lieu of any notable surface flaws or marks. A microscopic planchet crack is seen between RA of GRATIA, though the corresponding area of the reverse shows no evidence of it. The bust truncation is a bit crude, as struck, with a natural struck through depression at the shoulder and raised die lines on the neck. Though this is a crisp early die state, a fine crack crosses the tip of the bust from the stop after REX. Both sides are aligned trivially rightward, with some unstruck area visible outside of the border at left. Carefully struck on a prepared planchet, this coin represents the highest level of British coining art the mint could muster on a halfpenny flan. It would be a magnificent way to illustrate this type.PCGS Population: 1; 4 finer (SP-66 BN finest).From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stacks sale of the John L. Roper 2nd Collection, December 1983, lot 116; the George J. Bauer Estate; Lester Merkins sale of November 1968, lot 40.
