(1670s) Saint Patrick New Jersey Farthing - No C in QUIESCAT

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged in the Vlack reference under the "No C" varieties, with additional documentation by Martin (2018) and listed as W-11515, this scarce die error variety of the St. Patrick Farthing omits the letter C from the reverse legend, producing QVIESAT instead of the intended QVIESCAT (Latin, from quiescere, "may it rest" or "let it be at peace"). The misspelling provides a permanent die-cutting error frozen into the coinage, valuable for tracing die usage and attribution. The obverse retains the standard design of King David playing a harp, with the distinctive brass plug inserted into the copper flan — a bimetallic construction unique among colonial American coinages. St. Patrick coinage (both farthings and halfpence) was likely produced in Dublin, Ireland, during the 1670s, though the exact manufacturer and date remain subjects of scholarly debate. These coins found their most significant circulation in colonial New Jersey, where the colonial legislature granted them legal tender status in 1682 at a value of one halfpenny, making them among the earliest coins to circulate legally in British North America. The scarce die error variety with the missing C is rarer than standard-legend farthings and commands a premium among collectors specializing in colonial New Jersey numismatics and Saint Patrick coinage die variety analysis.

Rarity Notes

Scarce die error variety. The C is omitted from QVIESCAT on the reverse, reading QVIESAT instead.

Cross References

Vlack (No C varieties), Martin (2018), W-11515