Martinminerva

Yes it is. I was watching that for a while (it's a USA seller), but thought the price had gone too high for it. 1861 7+D is much less rare than 1860 7+D... Were you the winner?? Well done, if so - good Freeman number ticked off!

And here's the eBay one... Quite a difference!

Here's what a genuine 1853 threepence should look like (sold by London Coins a few years ago). The larger and fewer reverse beads are the most diagnostic, whilst the obverse has a very different portrait, plus there is a distinct gap between the D:G: and BRIT that is not present on the later obverse 3 ( I got the die pair wrong in my above post - it's actually a 3+B which is right for 1873 ).

Just seen this finish on eBay... NOT an 1853 threepence, but an 1873. The die pair is 2+B rather than the 1+A it would have to be. Certainly an honest mistake by the seller as the third digit is blundered/worn/damaged and bears a resemblance to a 5, but you would think someone willing to spend over a hundred quid would know their stuff! Hope it wasn't anyone on here who bought it! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-3-Pence-1853-Rare-/353646172040?mkpid=0&emsid=e11002.m43.l2649&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=21b00d5cd5a8478089b047bb7bd97776&bu=43098541495&exe=0&ext=0&logid=nqt%3DAAAAAAAAAFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAACAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAAAAAAAAEAAEA*%26nqc%3DAAAAAAAAAFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAAAAAAAAEAAEA*%26mdbreftime%3D1630857662908%26es%3D3%26ec%3D1&osub=-1~1&crd=20210905091455&segname=11002&sojTags=ch%3Dch%2Cbu%3Dbu%2Cnqt%3Dnqt%2Cnqc%3Dnqc%2Cmdbreftime%3Dmdbreftime%2Ces%3Des%2Cec%3Dec%2Cexe%3Dexe%2Cext%3Dext%2Cexe%3Dexe%2Cext%3Dext%2Cosub%3Dosub%2Ccrd%3Dcrd%2Csegname%3Dsegname%2Cchnl%3Dmkcid&nma=true&si=G8MMtpNLMSH%2FzVDr1pcX7gtwdUs%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Blimey! Why is the link so long?!

Shame about the fingerprint, but it's great for minimal wear and lustre... @secret santa Richard - feel free to add this one too to your penny website if you like!

Really happy it went to a forum member, and so glad you're pleased! I managed to get an upgrade for it at a good price too (see below), so karma has worked out brilliantly for all concerned! Still got some other things for sale!!

No - this design was proof only with 15,000 specimens struck. One does occasionally see circulated specimens of this issue - some sets were broken up and spent at the time : what a great shame! A good find certainly!

Ha ha! 😝 If this is proof aFDC, then my collection is beyond proof or must be MS120 !! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265257478771?hash=item3dc293ea73:g:LcMAAOSwEqphDn3w

Thanks, Richard. Greatly appreciated!

I have got listed another batch of rarer stuff on eBay if any forum member might be interested... Includes an 1860 Freeman obverse 1*, a 1913 penny Freeman 176 in reasonable grade, plus a few complete Whitman folders of pennies and halfpennies. link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/m.html?item=284397983318&_ssn=1970kit&_sop=10 Cheers!

I remember reading years ago, and goodness knows where (but might have been in an ancient Coin Monthly), that there was a conjecture that these open 3s might actually have been overdates on a 1902 die due to the matching curve at the top of both 3 and 2 and some hint of a flatter straight at the bottom of the open 3 to match the remains of the horizontal of the 2. If so, perhaps a numeral punch was not in fact used at all, but rather the open 3 was skilfully hand-cut into the die, by a meticulous engraver. Such hand cut digits do exist elsewhere in the UK coinage series according to eg. Davies and others. Just a thought - perhaps a punch search might be in vain!!

Iain Dracott says in his 2004 Coin News articles that he discovered it, but doesn't mention when. No references I can find that pre-date that, but only Iain would know for sure. Don't know if he is a member here, or if another member is in contact with him?

Obviously not a lot of halfpenny collectors out there... ! I know it's crappy, but how many of this type do exist??

The shield rim IS indeed slightly recessed, like the original 1860 rev C that it appears to be based on. As specimens wear of course, that becomes a flatter part of the coin, so not a reliable definer. Much better is the lighthouse itself, plus the fact that the PE of PENNY are much closer to the linear circle than on the normal 1873 reverse.

Found it! http://www.predecimal.com/forum/topic/3664-coin-aquisition-of-the-week/?page=502&tab=comments#comment-141727 And here's a screenshot of it :