Rosa Americana

William Wood, an Englishman, obtained a patent from King George I to make coins for Ireland and the American colonies. The first pieces struck were undated; others bear the dates 1722, 1723, 1724, and 1733. The Rosa Americana pieces were issued in three denominations—half penny, penny, and twopence—and were intended for America. This type had a fully bloomed rose on the reverse with the words ROSA AMERICANA UTILE DULCI ("American Rose—Useful and Sweet"). The obverse, common to both Rosa Americana and Hibernia pieces, shows the head of George I and the legend GEORGIUS D:G MAG: BRI: FRA: ET. HIB: REX ("George, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland") or abbreviations thereof. Rosa Americana coins, however, were rejected by the American colonists. The coins are made of a brass composition of copper and zinc (sometimes mistakenly referred to as Bath metal). Planchet quality is often rough and porous.