Great Britain. Pattern Farthing, 1676. Peck-492. Struck in silver. Edge plain. Charles II Obverse, laureate portrait of king with long hair by J Roettier. CAROLVS. A. CAROLO. around. Reverse, figure of Britannia seated with double exergue line below, and the bombastic assertion QVATVOR MARIA VINDICO ('I rule the four seas') around. An attractive high grade specimen which is practically mint state and toned in shades of blue and grey. NGC graded MS-63. WINGS. Estimate Value $800 - 1,000
* The detail of the king's portrait (and the figure of Britannia) is relatively shallow and is not as sharply defined as on the earlier 1665 dated patterns. Peck describes this pattern as 'Very Scarce' in any grade, and top class specimens have now virtually disappeared.