Minter William Wood (English, 1671–1730)

Irish 1/2 penny

1723

Place made, probablyLondon, England

or possiblyBristol, England

Copper

Overall (diameter): 1 1/16 in. (27.5mm)

1853.2b

Under a 1722 patent, Wood minted at least £40,000 of copper Farthings and Halfpence for what was deemed a coin shortage in Ireland. The acceptance and usage of these coins is a subject of much debate. At the moment of their manufacture they met with political opposition in England where the coinage became tied up in contention between the opposing English Whig and Tory parties and the issue of Irish Nationalism. They seem to have been acceptable and welcomed especially in rural areas of Ireland until 1737 in large quantities, especially in rural areas that experienced an acute shortage of coins for daily needs. The Hibernia coins came to America in a number of ways from the 1720s through the 1730s and entered circulation here.

DescriptionDie struck copper coin; obverse depicting right facing Laureate profile portrait of George I with the legend "GEORGIUS.DEI.GRATIA.REX.” (George, King by the Grace of God); reverse shows personified Hibernia (Ireland) seated left on globe, holding palm frond in right hand, resting left elbow upon harp; legend reads ".HIBERNIA.1723."

MarkingsStruck obverse "GEORGIUS.DEI.GRATIA.REX." Struck reverse ".HIBERNIA.1723."

ClassificationsCOINS & TOKENS