Wood's 1723 Hibernia halfpenny, type II.
Obverse: GEORGIUS.DEI . GRATIA.REX. laureate bust right.
Reverse: HIBERNIA.1723. Hibernia seated left, leaning on harp and holding branch.
Chocolate brown tone.

In 1722 William Wood received a patent to make coinage for the American Colonies and Ireland. His coinage was made from an alloy called ?bath? metal. It was rejected by the Irish people because the King had not consulted with the Irish Parliament before it was authorized. Perceived as an insult, the coinage was spurned. Both houses of the Irish Parliament petitioned the King to withdraw it. In 1724 Wood was forced to stop production and the following year Wood gave up his patent in exchange for a pension of ?3000 a year. In 1737 all of William Wood?s coins were withdrawn from circulation and bought for their bullion value. They were then shipped to the American Colonies where they remained in circulation until the Civil War. Examples have been found in parts of New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.


Sold Sept 2012