Owner Comments:
Pictured above is a 1760 No P "VOOE" Hibernia VOCE POPULI Halfpenny graded AU 55 BN by NGC, that formerly resided in the Long Island Collection. This single variety copper has been variously classified as: Breen 227, Nelson 3, Zelinka 7-E, and W-13930. Aside from its distinctive short bust, and sharp- featured head, the coin is noted for its apparent misspelling of the word VOCE as "VOOE" in the obverse peripheral legend. Alternative explanations have been propounded for this peculiarity, including: 1) a die cutting error; 2) that the 'C" was originally punched in the wrong direction, and then repunched in the opposite direction; 3) that an "O" was initially erroneously punched, followed by a corrective "C" over it; and 4) perhaps the most plausible explanation, advanced by Q. David Bowers, that this anomaly is attributable to a late die state, progressively expanding die crack, that eventually connected the top and bottom of the "C".
The population of VOOE POPULI coppers approximates 200 to 500 examples. NGC has certified 1 mint state example, while PCGS has slabbed 5 uncirculated pieces. Even on pristine coins, the high points are frequently bluntly defined. This is because the pertinent dies were purposely altered to impart the appearance of wear on the coins, to encourage their acceptance into circulation by the general public.
HISTORY - 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 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."
Early books on colonial coins made no reference to VOCE POPULI coppers, calling into question whether they circulated in the colonies. A few specimens have been found with metal detectors, indicating that some may have arrived to America in the pocket change of foreign immigrants. Others, such as Peter Jones, have suggested that after regal halfpence production was fully ramped up by 1766, some excess VOCI POPULIs may have been shipped to America by speculators, and circulated here between 1767 and 1776.