Voce Populi 1760 half penny token
This specimen was lot 1069 in Steve Album Auction 53 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $390. The catalog description[1] noted, "UNITED STATES: AE halfpenny, 1760, Voce Populi copper, VOOE variety, PCGS graded VF25. By 1760 small coppers were scarce in Ireland. No royal Irish farthings had been issued since 1744 and no royal Irish halfpence since 1755. Issues of both denominations were scheduled to be minted in 1760 but apparently they did not arrive in Ireland until 1762. It has been speculated this was partly due to the death of George II in October of 1760. Under these circumstances underweight Voce Populi farthings and halfpence first appeared in Dublin. Very little is known about the origins of these coins, all of which carry the date 1760. Traditionally they have been attributed to a man named Roche who was a button maker on South King Street in Dublin. It is thought these coppers may have continued to be produced through 1761 using the 1760 dated dies. It is generally assumed their production ceased by 1762 when the regal 1760 coppers finally arrived. The Voce populi series saw limited use in the American Colonies."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.4 g, copper, 29 mm diameter, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM-Tn1.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 53, featuring Selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld, Almer H. Orr III, Dr. Dirk Loer and Joe Sedillot Collections, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
Link to: