(1659) MD 4P Lord Baltimore VF35 认证号25370748, PCGS号32

Ron Guth

As Scott Rubin noted below, the vast majority of known Maryland Fourpence are of the Large Bust variety.  The easiest way to identify this type is to look for a hyphen between TERRAE and MARIAE; the presence of a hyphen is diagnostic of the Large Bust.  Late states of the die show the reverse starting to break down on the right side of the shield; advanced states show a large lump of metal connecting the shield with the V of the denomination.  

Mint State Maryland Fourpence are exceedingly rare.  The finest appears to be the NGC MS64 from the Donald Partrick Collection.  A close runner-up is the impressive double struck PCGS MS62 which shows a strong rotation between strikes.

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P. Scott Rubin

The Maryland Fourpence of Lord Baltimore is a very rare coin of which only approximately thirty specimens are known. There are really two varieties of the Maryland Fourpence: 1) a Large Bust type where the bust is very close to the RR of the inscription and 2) a Small Bust type where there is much more space between the RR and the bust. The latter type is represented by a unique specimen that Heritage sold in January, 2015 as lot 5621 in the Donald Partrick collection for an all-in price of $111,625.

The Maryland Fourpence is the smallest denomination of silver coinage issued by Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, Sixpence and Shillings were also issued for circulation. Although made in England these were made to be used in Maryland to help with the small currency shortage needed in local commerce. All the silver issues share the same general design: the obverse has a bust of Cecil Calvert while the reverse contains the Calvert Shield with a crown, orb, and cross on top.

These are the first circulating coins made in England for use in a British Colony. They were issued in either 1658 or 1659.