St. Patrick Coppers 1674-1675 (1681)

large planchet

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

[1641-42]        Vlack 1-B                        St. Patrick copper, large planchet

Obverse:   . FLOREAT [.]     [.] .[star] [.]    . REX [.]
Reverse:   : ECCE .   GREX [.]

Weight:  124.4 g   (8.06 grams)                  Diameter:  28.4 mm

Comments:  This is a worn example in which the punctuation is not fully visible. The obverse is certainly die 1 (only dies 1 and 2 have the star) for the R in FLOREAT leans right and extends below the E. Also the T (which is in the brass splasher area) leans left, is close to the crown and has no bottom serif. The reverse is die B for the CC in ECCE touch and the R in GREX is high and leans to the left. Note that the stem of the shamrock turns left and points to a listener's head. The only other reverse found with die 1 (reverse A) had no shamrock stem below Patrick's hand. Vlack states some of the punctuation (top of colon and stops after E and X on reverse) may be weak or missing.

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection. This is one a group of St Patrick copper Mr. Gore obtained from William Anton, Jr., President of Woodcliff Investment Corporation on August 9, 1967. According to Anton's letter the coins were duplicates from the F.C.C. Boyd collection.

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

[1641-42]        Vlack 3-C                        St. Patrick copper, large planchet

Obverse:  ... FLORE   A.T   . REX [.]
Reverse:  . ECCE .   GREX

Weight:  136.1 g   (8.82 grams)                  Diameter:  28.4 mm

Comments:  Some of the obverse punctuation is worn and the final stop is very weak. This variety has larger letters than the other dies. Note that the L is higher than the other letters and leans to the right and that the RE is close together. Also the letter A touches the crown and the harp has 17 strings. On the reverse Patrick's outstretched had points to the E. Also in GREX the R is larger than the other letters and leans to the left while the E is low and close to the R. Note the die break extending from the center horizontal of the first E in ECCE and continuing through the C and into the second C. Apparently this is a rare variety for Vlack only saw one example. Another example offered as item 51 in the John L. Roper Sale (Stack's 1983) is stated to have details not present on the Vlack specimen and corrects Vlack's punctuation of the legend (by adding the three stops before FLORE). The present example is in better condition that the Roper offering and also has the three stops visible.

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection. This is one a group of St Patrick copper Mr. Gore obtained from William Anton, Jr., President of Woodcliff Investment Corporation on August 9, 1967. According to Anton's letter the coins were duplicates from the F.C.C. Boyd collection.

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

[1641-42]        Vlack 5-D                        St. Patrick copper, large planchet

Obverse:  FLORE   A.T   . REX [.]
Reverse:  . ECCE .   GREX

Weight:  130.3 g   (8.44 grams)                  Diameter:  28.1 mm

Comments:  This is a variant of Vlack 5-D as it clearly lacks the three stops before ... FLORE as listed in Vlack. Otherwise it follows Vlack's characteristics. On the obverse the A.T are smaller than the other letters. The bottom horizontal stroke of the E slopes downward. There are16 strings on the harp. The reverse is the D die for the shamrock is under the E and close to it. Also the first C in ECCE has been recut and is closer to the second C. Otherwise the letter spacing is good. There does not appear to be a stop after GREX. Vlack mentions that stop may be weak or missing. The bottom third of this specimen is worn.

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection. This is one a group of St Patrick copper Mr. Gore obtained from William Anton, Jr., President of Woodcliff Investment Corporation on August 9, 1967. According to Anton's letter the coins were duplicates from the F.C.C. Boyd collection.

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

[1641-42]        Vlack 5-D                        St. Patrick copper, large planchet

Obverse:  [...FL]ORE   A.T   . REX [.]
Reverse:  . ECCE   GREX

Weight:  142.2 g   (9.22 grams)                  Diameter:  28.7 mm

Comments:  Another more darkly toned example of the coin discussed above. There appears to be a planchet or production flaw of some type on the obverse edge causing a crecent shaped gap from the bottom of the harp to the O in the legend. This seems to be some type of turning motion, possibly a planchet cutter. There is a smaller but similar problem at the rim on the opposite end (at about 1:00-2:30 o'clock).

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection. This is one a group of St Patrick copper Mr. Gore obtained from William Anton, Jr., President of Woodcliff Investment Corporation on August 9, 1967. According to Anton's letter the coins were duplicates from the F.C.C. Boyd collection.

Lord Baltimore Coinage	Section Contents	St. Patrick Coppers: p. 2