Jump to content
British Coin Forum - Predecimal.com

50 Years of RotographicCoinpublications.com A Rotographic Imprint. Price guide reference book publishers since 1959. Lots of books on coins, banknotes and medals. Please visit and like Coin Publications on Facebook for offers and updates.

Coin Publications on Facebook

   Rotographic    

The current range of books. Click the image above to see them on Amazon (printed and Kindle format). More info on coinpublications.com

predecimal.comPredecimal.com. One of the most popular websites on British pre-decimal coins, with hundreds of coins for sale, advice for beginners and interesting information.

Recommended Posts

1 hour ago, Bronze & Copper Collector said:

I've found the A to the RIGHT of the lighthouse to be the scarcest followed by the B. 

Die letter A appears to me  to the most common in either of the letter positions to the LEFT of the lighthouse.

Die letter C follows with same observation regarding either of its two letter positions.

Die letter B is next scarcest followed the die letter A to right of the lighthouse.

Years ago I had posted images of these in the forum. Can't seem to find them now. Probably using incorrect search parameters.

 

I myself found a A in fair grade (but very clear) it was the more common A to the left .

I sold it as I did not consider it collectable in that grade as it had been polished as well and I am a bit old school on polishing (I hate it)

Heres hopeing I find another

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
28 minutes ago, copper123 said:

I sold it as I did not consider it collectable in that grade as it had been polished as well and I am a bit old school on polishing (I hate it)

I hate it too, but if you cart it about in your pocket with the rest of your change for about a year you can take the shine off it and make it look a bit better. :D

I'd have kept it, but then I keep everything.

  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Bronze & Copper Collector said:

I've found the A to the RIGHT of the lighthouse to be the scarcest followed by the B. 

Die letter A appears to me  to the most common in either of the letter positions to the LEFT of the lighthouse.

Die letter C follows with same observation regarding either of its two letter positions.

Die letter B is next scarcest followed the die letter A to right of the lighthouse.

Years ago I had posted images of these in the forum. Can't seem to find them now. Probably using incorrect search parameters.

 

I think that this is the link.

Link to Thread with Images

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Bronze & Copper Collector said:

I think that this is the link.

Link to Thread with Images

Extremely informative thread Gary. Thanks for taking the time to find it.

I would imagine that your wants list is minimal.🙂

  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1862Aa.jpg.ca96eff47b1180aa78c4cfdbe2dfe0ba.jpg

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
8 hours ago, Martinminerva said:

Not true! Reverse I lighthouse also has two windows as picture above shows, albeit masonry is a bit heavier (and akin to reverse F as Zo Arms says above).

Yes you're right - there are fainter lower windows. Maybe I meant there are no upper windows when I wrote that - I don't have a reverse I in hand but it doesn't look like there aren't upper windows.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Here are a few of my recent halfpenny acquisitions, firstly the 1862 Die letter C previously mentioned.

image224.jpg

image225.jpg

  • Like 6

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

A decent 1871.

image228.jpg

image229.jpg

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

a HALP halfpenny, 7 + G from Ebay

image226.jpg

image227.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My 1861 B over R in BRITT, 7 + G

image230.jpg

image231.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, jelida said:

Here are a few of my recent halfpenny acquisitions, firstly the 1862 Die letter C previously mentioned.

image224.jpg

image225.jpg

A lovely specimen

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, jelida said:

Here are a few of my recent halfpenny acquisitions, firstly the 1862 Die letter C previously mentioned.

image224.jpg

image225.jpg

That reverse is not  near unc  in fact its not EF obverse is much better. Makes me jealous though.....

Edited by copper123

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
19 minutes ago, copper123 said:

That reverse is not  near unc  in fact its not EF obverse is much better. Makes me jealous though.....

A worn die is not the same as a worn coin,  and I do agree the reverse die had lost detail, a bit like some ‘F’ reverses in the penny series. I pondered this previously,  why the need to mark the engraved face of the die to monitor longevity, when the die could be marked elsewhere in greater detail ; they would have to have counted the number of actual coins struck per studied die either way. And the die marked coins seem to have been too few to  be practically monitored for ‘in circulation’ studies. Could partially worn regular dies be lettered or numbered to in some way monitor a later stage of their lives, or to  be brought back into use?  Perhaps with such a tiny mark the die would not even need annealing. Is there evidence out there?

Jerry

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree could be die wear , collectors will still mark it down prob a grade because of lack of clarity on the reverse , still worth around £1700 though.....

If it were a penny of similar rarity it would be £6000

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just been looking at the die letter halfpennies in LCA archives, the best ‘C’ is CGS45 so about VF, and has the same weakness of Britannia and lower shield, as does a CGS35. The A’s and B’s seem much crisper. The CGS 45 went for £2000 plus juice in 2013. I have no idea of the top grade out there. But value is not an issue for me, I very rarely dispose of anything.

Jerry

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
5 minutes ago, jelida said:

Just been looking at the die letter halfpennies in LCA archives, the best ‘C’ is CGS45 so about VF, and has the same weakness of Britannia and lower shield, as does a CGS35. The A’s and B’s seem much crisper. The CGS 45 went for £2000 plus juice in 2013. I have no idea of the top grade out there. But value is not an issue for me, I very rarely dispose of anything.

Jerry

Thank you Jerry for sharing all above lovely halfpennies in your collection.  200% agree that you won't dispose it, coz taking it out and have a look is already a big enjoyment.  Cheers, and thanks again for your sharing.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It is a unique rarity and so great seeing it on here thanks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
20 hours ago, jelida said:

Just been looking at the die letter halfpennies in LCA archives, the best ‘C’ is CGS45 so about VF, and has the same weakness of Britannia and lower shield, as does a CGS35. The A’s and B’s seem much crisper. The CGS 45 went for £2000 plus juice in 2013. I have no idea of the top grade out there. But value is not an issue for me, I very rarely dispose of anything. 

Jerry

Any chance being remembered in your will?!

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 1/18/2022 at 6:48 PM, jelida said:

a HALP halfpenny, 7 + G from Ebay

image226.jpg

image227.jpg

No reflection on your particular example, but is the HALP a genuine variety? It always looks as though the upper and middle serifs of the F have met due to some die irregularity. To my eyes it looks nothing like the P in PENNY.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 1/19/2022 at 6:20 AM, jelida said:

I pondered this previously,  why the need to mark the engraved face of the die to monitor longevity, when the die could be marked elsewhere in greater detail ; they would have to have counted the number of actual coins struck per studied die either way. And the die marked coins seem to have been too few to  be practically monitored for ‘in circulation’ studies. Could partially worn regular dies be lettered or numbered to in some way monitor a later stage of their lives, or to  be brought back into use?  Perhaps with such a tiny mark the die would not even need annealing. Is there evidence out there?

Good point - has there ever been a true explanation of die numbers on the silver coins, or is all we have speculation?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, Peckris 2 said:

No reflection on your particular example, but is the HALP a genuine variety? It always looks as though the upper and middle serifs of the F have met due to some die irregularity. To my eyes it looks nothing like the P in PENNY.

I have actually said much the same previously on this forum - many of this “variety “ look a lot like a die flaw - but I have subsequently also seen a number that appear quite crisp and very acceptable as an overstrike,  this is one, and I am now reasonably happy that it is a true variety. It is definitely more than a serif issue.

Jerry

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
21 hours ago, jelida said:

I have actually said much the same previously on this forum - many of this “variety “ look a lot like a die flaw - but I have subsequently also seen a number that appear quite crisp and very acceptable as an overstrike,  this is one, and I am now reasonably happy that it is a true variety. It is definitely more than a serif issue.

Jerry

The main problem seems to be the left hand edge of each letter: on the supposed overstrike F/P, the serifs extend at exact right angles, like they do on the L. However, the P of penny has a regular curve extending from the bottom to the top on the left hand side; this makes the serifs rounded rather than extending straight at right angles.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
7 minutes ago, Peckris 2 said:

The main problem seems to be the left hand edge of each letter: on the supposed overstrike F/P, the serifs extend at exact right angles, like they do on the L. However, the P of penny has a regular curve extending from the bottom to the top on the left hand side; this makes the serifs rounded rather than extending straight at right angles.

This would be true if the letter punch were held truly vertically, but not if the strike was made at a slight angle. Many of the overstruck letters and digits we see are partial.  
 

Jerry

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×