1723 Pattern Woods Hibernia Farthing. Martin 3.2-Bc.10, W-12500. Rarity-5. Silver. Specimen-64 (PCGS). CAC. A fabulous example of the rare and desirable pattern strike Woods Hibernia farthing in silver. The prooflike surfaces are exceptionally fresh and bright, and display lovely original toning of russet tones that come alive with colorful iridescence when tilted under a light. The technical quality is exemplary with virtually no abrasions or other impairments that catch the eye. We can only note a small, as made strike-through behind the head and a few other similar, but barely noticeable ones in the left reverse field. This piece offers many Gem level attributes and has eye appeal in spades. Woods Hibernia farthings in silver were once considered to be incredibly rare, and Eric P. Newman had marked his own as "probably unique" at some point in the early 20th Century. However, a small hoard of about two dozen pieces came out of hiding in England during the late 1950s. First brought to light by Baldwins of London, the pieces were housed in a silver tube with silver halfpenny ends; the group had descended directly from the Wood family into the hands of Albert Baldwin, whose firm then dispersed the lot. We later offered the silver tube with silver halfpenny ends in our September 2009 Americana Auction.<p> From the Rockford Collection, Part 2.
