Owner Comments:
Pictured above is a 1760 Hibernia Voce Populi Farthing graded AU 50 by PCGS. Featuring Large Obverse Legend Lettering, it has been variously designated as Nelson 1, Breen 234, and W-13800. The Farthings, which come in only 2 varieties, Nelson 1 and Nelson 2, (as compared with at least 16 varieties of halfpennies), are far rarer than their halfpenny counterparts. In the mid 20th century the Large Letter Farthings were considered much scarcer than they are today. However, the Nelson 2 Small Letter Farthings are a major rarity by any standards. An estimated 33-64 (URS-7) specimens of the Large Letter Farthings exist today. 30 have been graded by PCGS (6 with CAC stickers), and 13 are in NGC slabs. The piece shown above clearly exhibits the typical evidence of die clashing.
For several years, the British Royal Mint had been inconsistent and deficient in its production of Irish farthings and halfpence. As a result, small spendable coppers were scarce in Ireland. Merchants and the general populous clamored for relief. Mr. Roche, an enterprising button maker for the British Army, came to the rescue. He began striking the Voce Populi coppers in Dublin, Ireland as a speculative private venture. Since Mr. Roche died in 1760, yet numerous varieties surfaced as late as 1762, it is widely believed that other individuals and mint facilities may have been involved in the production of the Voce Populi pieces. Fortunately, by 1762 an infusion of legal royal coppers had arrived in Ireland for distribution.
The legend "Voce Populi" on these tokens translates into "by the voice of the people".
Although a few specimens have been found with metal detectors, indicating that some may have arrived to America in the pocket change of foreign immigrants, there is no evidence that the Voce Populi widely circulated here.