St. Patrick Coppers Introduction

St. Patrick Coppers 1674-1675 (1681)

small planchet

Type 2 - some design below the kneeling David

Section 1 - small rings (annulets) and/or martlet under David.

obverse

reverse

Martin, 7b.1 - Ea.8 St. Patrick copper, small planchet

Obverse: FLOREAT : R[EX]
Reverse: QVIE[SCAT] PLEBS :

Weight: 81.9 g (5.30 grams) Diameter: 25.3 mm

Comments: On the obverse below David are two small rings called annulets in the shape of an 8. To the left are two horizontal shapes and a third small shape to the right of the annulets. Possibly these shapes represents ground. This example appears to be similar to Breen 216. The bottom of the figure on the harp bows at the L in FLOREAT. The head of the harp is aligned with the E. On David's crown the first two spikes point to the R and the final two point past the R in REX. On the reverse the head of the snake is directly under the Q. Patrick's staff points to the vertical stroke in the E in PLEBS. On the church steeple both the vertical and the horizontal bar of the cross touch the bow of the B in PLEBS.

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

reverse

Martin, 9b.3 - Dc.1 St. Patrick copper, small planchet

Obverse: FLOREAT REX :.
Reverse: QVIESCAT PLEBS

Weight: 83.1 g (5.38 grams) Diameter: 25.1 mm

Comments: On the obverse the legend begins higher than usual. The F in FLOREAT is opposite the bend in the harp while the head of the harp is between the O and the R. Also note that the spikes on David's crown point to the E in REX with the final spike actually pointing to the X. The punctuation after REX consists of three stops in the form of a triangle. Below David is a small roundish shape near the rim; this is a martlet which is a legless heraldic bird. On the reverse is a long snake that extends beyond the Q. Patrick's staff points towards the space between the E and the B in PLEBS. On the church steeple the left side of the horizontal bar of the cross touches the top of Patrick's staff and the right side of the crossbar points to the space between the B and the E in PLEBS.

small planchet

Type 2 - some design below the kneeling David

Section 2 - Land under David and the punctuation REX :.

obverse

reverse

Martin, 3g.2 - Db.2 St. Patrick copper, small planchet

Obverse: FLOREAT REX :.
Reverse: QVIESCAT PLEBS :

Weight: 79.0 g (5.12 grams) Diameter: 25.2 mm

Comments: On the obverse below David are horizontal shapes sometimes called ground. This example has been clipped at 6:00 o'clock removing some of the feature. In the legend the F in FLOREAT is opposite the bend in the harp head is aligned with the space between the O and the R. The first two spikes in David's crown point at the R while the final two spikes point to the space between the R and the E in REX. The punctuation after REX consists of three stops in the form of a triangle. On the reverse the snake extends under the Q. Patrick's outstretched hand points between the V and the I in QVIESCAT. Patrick's staff points to the horizontal stroke of the E in PLEBS. Note that the S in PLEBS is small and the punctuation after is distant, it is almost touching the small cross on the far side of the church. On the church steeple the horizontal bar of the cross touches the vertical of the B in PLEBS.

obverse

reverse

Martin, 3c.2 - Fb.2 St. Patrick copper, small planchet

Obverse: [FLOREAT] : REX :.
Reverse: QVIES[CAT] [PLEBS]

Weight: 83.4 g (5.40 grams) Diameter: 24.7 mm

Comments: On the obverse below David are horizontal shapes sometimes called ground. The first spike on David's crown points to the end stroke of the R, the next tow point towards the E and the final spike points between the E and the X in REX. The upper stop in the punctuation before REX is well worn, after REX are three stops in the form of a triangle. On the reverse the head of the snake is directly under Q. Although much of the steeple can be seen the legend is worn.

obverse

reverse

Martin, 3i.1 - Fc.14 St. Patrick copper, small planchet

Obverse: FLOREAT REX :.
Reverse: QV[IESCAT] PLEBS:.

Weight: 68.7 g (4.45 grams) Diameter: 25.3 mm

Comments: On the obverse below David are horizontal shapes sometimes called ground. In the legend the F in FLOREAT is opposite the bend in the harp, while the harp head is aligned with the R. The spikes on David's crown point from the mid section of the R to the bottom horizontal of the E in REX. The punctuation after REX consists of three stops in the form of a triangle. On the reverse the head of the snake is under the Q. Patrick's staff points to the serif on the horizontal stroke of the E in PLEBS. The punctuation after PLEBS consists of three stops in the form of a triangle and is fairly worn. On the cross on the church steeple the left side of the horizontal bar touches Patrick's staff and the right side of the vertical bar points to the B in PLEBS.


St. Patrick Coppers: p.5	Section Contents	St. Patrick Coppers: p.7

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