St. Patrick Farthing. Martin 4b.2-Aa.1. Copper. Halo around saints head. VF-30 (PCGS).89.9 grains. One of the rarest major types in the Saint Patrick series, long called the “Nimbus” variety, though referred to as the “Halo” variety in modern PCGS parlance. Medium chocolate brown with lighter brown devices and legends. The surfaces are evenly granular but maintain good gloss and visual appeal. A logging die crack connects the letters of OREA of FLOREAT and a rather spectacular cud wipes out the S of QVISCAT. The halo or nimbus characteristic is subtle but visible around Saint Patrick’s miter. The centering is good and, aside from a little nick above the king’s outstretched hand, there are no marks of consequence.<p>This piece is struck from the same die marriage as Norweb:2365 and Craige (our November 2012 sale):6114, though in a later die state than either. Just two dies show the Nimbus characteristic; this one seems to be the more common of the two dies. The Roper, Picker, and two of the three Norweb coins were struck from this reverse but a different obverse; the PCGS VF-35 (last sold by Heritage in January 2012 for $21,850) appears to be the only example from the other reverse sold in recent years. John Griffee, whose study of Saint Patrick’s reinvigorated interest in the series, never owned a Nimbus of any variety, and the Boyd-Ford grouping also lacked one.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection of New Jersey Coppers.
