In preparation for the upcoming 73rd edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins, which is expected to draw increased attention to foreign coinsthat were used in Colonial America, I thumbed through the Colonial Issues section of the 4th edition of Mega Red and came across something bothinteresting and festive. If you are one of the millions of Americans that love to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day (which is coming up this Sunday), then it mightbe interesting to know that there really are numismatic treasures out there associated with the holiday: Saint Patrick coppers. These coins are beautifulexamples of foreign issues that were circulated in Colonial America and the reverse designs depict the eponymous Saint Patrick himself. Saint Patrick coppersalso trace their origin to Ireland. According to Mega Red:

The reverse of the farthing depicts Saint Patrick holding a metropolitan cross in his left hand while driving away serpents. The inscription readsQUIESCAT PLEBS ("May the People Be at Ease").

On the contrary, the reverse of the halfpenny depicts Saint Patrick in a different light: He holds a trefoil in his right hand and a crozier in his leftwhile being surrounded by a group of people. The inscription of the halfpenny reverse reads ECCE GREX ("Behold the Flock").

Which coin (or both) do you think was intended to be the true representation of Saint Patrick in the American colonies? Let us know in the comments, andhave a Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

To read the complete article, see:
Treasure at the end of the rainbow: New Jersey'sSaint Patrick coppers (http://news.coinupdate.com/treasure-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow-new-jerseys-saint-patrick-coppers/)