1723 Rosa Americana Pattern Twopence. Martin 3.13-G.1, W-1338. Rarity-8. Specimen-63 (PCGS). 218.4 grains. A wonderful rarity among Rosa Americana twopences and this is an extraordinarily beautiful specimen. This distinctive variety, clearly a pattern or special presentation issue, was first plated and described in the October 1903 <em>American Journal of Numismatics</em> by Dr. Thomas Hall in a lengthy write-up entitled "A New Rosa Americana Two-Pence." The obverse and reverse dies found here are seen only in this combination, and both are totally unique in appearance when compared to all of the other twopence dies of the date. The obverse portrait, while masterfully executed in terms of the die work, gives George a more aged appearance with a heavier jowl and baggier eyes. The hair is more coarsely delineated and in bolder relief than on the regular issues. The reverse is noteworthy and immediately distinctive with its cross shaped ornament after ROSA and the broken up letters of AME RICANA. The execution of the dies as well as the production of the strike were clearly meant to impress. Struck with incredible precision on a high quality, clearly specially prepared planchet. The exacting strike and extraordinary preservation of this coin allows for full study of every intricacy of the dies, down to the fine eyebrow detail on the obverse portrait. The surfaces are a lovely gold and brown with unsubdued prooflike luster in the fields and the original satiny mint texture of the devices fully intact. There are no imperfections worthy of concern, a harmless patch of darker toning under the E of GEORGIUS is a useful identifier of this specimen.<p>Described as being the Dr. Hall discovery coin in the Ford catalog, but this coin does not match the piece plated in the October 1903 <em>AJN</em> and is actually the G.J. Bauer coin sold in the November 1968 Lester Merkin sale that was mentioned as a different specimen in Ford. The Merkin catalog devoted more text to this coin than any other lot in the sale, and described it as "one of the most important Early American pieces we have ever handled or ever expect to." It was described therein as a "Brilliant Proof" and without getting into the technicalities of Proof vs. Specimen vs. Business Strike, this is certainly as close to a Proof 1723 Rosa Americana twopence as you will ever see. It brought $3,500 in the 1968 Merkin sale, a significant sum, and sold to Spink from whom Ford acquired the piece in 1974. Plated and written up by Walter Breen in the September 1969 issue of <em>The Colonial Newsletter</em>. A fabulous piece that would be a standout highlight in any early American cabinet. PCGS# 905773. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Lester Merkins sale of the G.J. Bauer Collection, November 1968, lot 26; Spink & Son, Ltd., August 13, 1974; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part IX, May 2005, lot 176. Plated in Walter Breens Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins p. 24. Plated in the Martin reference "The Rosa Americana Coinage of William Wood," pp. 276, 322.
