1723/2 Wood’s Hibernia halfpenny. Martin 3.4-Db.1, W-12850. Rarity-3. MS-63 BN (PCGS).116.3 grains. A particularly high grade example of this popular variety. Rich mint color engulfs design elements on both sides and covers much of the left side of the obverse. Frosty and lustrous, supremely attractive. The overdate characteristic leaves no guesswork, as most of the 2 underdigit remains visible right of the 3. Both sides are in advanced die states. The obverse shows a retained cud left of G of GRATIA, along with several die cracks and raised spalling artifacts in the fields. The reverse is cracked along the tops of HIBE and likewise shows the raised artifacts that spalling left in the die. Though commonly available in circulated grades through choice AU, nice Uncirculated examples of this overdate are genuinely rare. This is among the finest we’ve encountered.PCGS Population: 2; 1 finer.From the Archangel Collection. Acquired from Stack’s, privately.
