Undated (ca. 1652-1674) St. Patrick Farthing. Martin 1c.17-Ca.14, W-11500. Rarity-6. Copper. Nothing Below King. AU-50 (PCGS). 94.5 grains. A simply gorgeous example of the type. It would be hard to imagine a more pleasing coin to represent the copper St. Patrick farthing, even in higher technical grades. It was described in our sale of the Ford Collection as follows: "A really lovely example. Both sides are nicely toned in a light olive brown shade. The brass splash on the crown on the obverse is full, bold and still quite bright. It makes a dramatic appearance against the darker field. The centers are sharp, the punctuation is clear and the piece is one of the nicest the cataloguer has seen." The 1c.17-Ca.14 die variety produced a number of lovely examples as we have noted at least two other pieces held as type coins in advanced collections that happened to be this same die variety. The fortunate combination of well laid-out dies, high quality planchets, and skilled production of the strike and splash make it a perfect candidate for the discerning collector. This is an absolutely choice specimen and worthy of the strongest bids. Obverse and reverse plated in Martin to illustrate the dies. PCGS# 902847. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from A.H. Baldwin & Son, Ltd.s November 1971 sale, part of lot 227; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection Part VII, January 2005, lot 7; Jim LaSarre, December 2009.
