1724 Rosa Americana Pattern Twopence. Martin 5.1-H.1, W-1360. Silvered. Rarity-8+. VF Details--Graffiti (PCGS).

245.8 grains. A most exciting piece struck in a unique composition for the type and bearing the initials "W.W" neatly engraved below the bust and the date "VII. JVNE" on the reverse. This well known piece has long been believed to have been William Wood's personal coin, perhaps carried as a pocket piece by him considering the wear. While there is no definitive proof it belonged to Wood, there are certainly many signs pointing in that direction and there are no good reasons to seriously doubt it. The fact that it is rare pattern variety in unique metal would certainly fit as being the sort of coin that Wood might make as a special memento for himself or a showpiece to have on hand to share his work with others. The style of the engraving is absolutely contemporary with the era the coin was struck and it appears worn over and toned along with the rest of the coin showing the engraving was likely not added at some later point. Although called silvered Bath metal in the Norweb and Ford catalogs, the coin seems to have a higher density than usual for that metal, the planchet being similar in thickness and diameter to the preceding lot for instance, yet 46 grains heavier. The metal should be tested and could very well be silver or perhaps a "German silver" sort of alloy given the yellow hue. Nelson (1903) mentions a "proof in silver, probably unique" for the 1724 twopence. The surfaces are lovely for the grade, the important engraving notwithstanding, with no marks or other imperfections that bear note. Just moderately worn no doubt from being lovingly carried for many decades. A wonderful piece, a significant rarity for its unique composition and a supremely desirable relic for anyone interested in the fascinating coinages of William Wood.

PCGS# 905739.

From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Sotheby's sale of the John G. Murdoch, Esq. Collection, July 1903, lot 438, via Spink & Son, Ltd.; Virgil Brand; offered for sale by Horace Louis Philip Brand in the May 1953 The Numismatist, p. 522; New Netherlands Coin Company, October 8, 1956; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Norweb Collection, Part II, March 1988, lot 2443; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part IX, May 2005, lot 187. Plated in the Martin reference "The Rosa Americana Coinage of William Wood," p. 350.