Rare NGC-certified St. Patrick Gold Coin Offered in March Heritage Sale

Could this be the luck of the Irish? A stunning St. Patrick gold coin certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) is one of the highlights of a Heritage Auction sale that is being held on St. Patrick's Day and the following day, March 18, 2021. Bidding is already underway for the sale of colonial rarities from the Donald G. Partrick Collection.

Copper versions of the St. Patrick coinage were used by colonists in New Jersey in the 1680s. The Partrick Collection sale also includes rarities from the copper coinage used in New Jersey in the 1780s, following the Revolutionary War, as well as other rare coins used in North America during this period. 

The circa 1670 Gold St. Patrick Farthing graded NGC Details AU. Click images to enlarge

The circa 1670 Gold St. Patrick Farthing graded NGC Details AU (lot 15006) is the only one known to exist and was likely a presentation piece. Mark Newby, a Dublin merchant, emigrated to what today is New Jersey, bringing a large quantity of St. Patrick coins with him, which authorities allowed to circulate as legal tender.

The auction also includes a dozen examples of copper versions, as well as six rarer silver examples.

Another type of copper coin circulated in New Jersey in the 1780s, a time of fervent experimentation in currency before the advent of the US Mint. These New Jersey Coppers, which were officially sanctioned by the state government, come in a wide variety of designs, some much rarer than others.

Known to be the only surviving example, a unique 1787 WM Above Plow New Jersey Copper (Maris 62.5-r) graded NGC F 15 (lot 15105) is among the highlights of the sale. Distinct capital letters “WM” impressed in the obverse between the plow and the horse head are believed to be the initials of New Jersey Copper engraver Walter Mould.

The 1787 WM Above Plow New Jersey Copper graded NGC F 15. Click images to enlarge

Mould established Morristown Mint in 1787 and began striking New Jersey Coppers. It is believed this was Mould’s first legitimate issued coinage because his initials never appeared on any other die prepared by him. It is likely that he was ordered to remove his initials from the design and destroy all existing pieces with the markings.

A 1786 Date Under Plow Beam New Jersey Copper (Maris 7-E) graded NGC VF 30 (lot 15023) is another rarity up for auction. This coin has a distinctive die orientation shared with at least two other examples; rather than the prevailing 180-degree “coin turn” alignment, this piece was struck with a 10-degree alignment, much closer to what is known as “medal turn.” Additionally, this lot is one of 10 known coins with the date beneath the plow beam, solidifying it as one of the rarest colonial coins in existence.

Another highlight is a 1786 Washington and Shield New Jersey Copper (Maris 4-C) graded NGC VF 25 (lot 15019). It pre-dates George Washington’s presidency and depicts a calm bust of the Revolutionary War hero. The ultra-rare coin is one of three known and is one of the earliest and rarest pieces to portray Washington.

1786 Washington and Shield New Jersey Copper graded NGC VF 25. Click images to enlarge.

The Partrick Collection has already realized more than $47 million, including another NGC-certified New Jersey Copper that realized $552,000 at a January sale. That sale also included the centerpiece of the Partrick Collection, an NGC-certified 1787 Brasher Doubloon that realized $9.36 million, which set numerous records, including most expensive coin ever sold at a Heritage auction.   

The March sale of rarities from the Partrick Collection of Extraordinary Colonial Coinage features more than 500 NGC-certified additional coins, tokens and medals, including:

• A 1786 Small Head New York Non Vi Virtute Vici Copper graded NGC AU 58 (lot 15016)
• A 1786 Immunis Columbia Shield New Jersey Copper graded NCG XF 40 (lot 15017)
• A 1787 Immunis Columbia Eagle Reverse New Jersey Copper graded NGC XF 40 (lot 15058)
• A 1772 Machin’s Mills Halfpenny graded NGC XF 40 (lot 15122)
• An 1800 Washington Funeral Gold Medal graded NGC Details AU (lot 15159)
• A 1773 Virginia Halfpenny graded NGC MS 63 BN (lot 15302)
• A 1779 Rhode Island Ship Token graded NGC AU 58 (lot 15389)
• A 1787 Fugio Copper Cent graded NGC MS 64 BN (lot 15406)
• A 1791 Washington Large Eagle Cent graded NGC MS 63 BN (lot 15412)

Related Links:

• NGC-certified Brasher Doubloon Realizes a Record $9.36 Million at Partrick Sale
• The Donald G. Partrick Collection