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I'm not convinced it is genuine. The shape of the truncation is more akin to the penny, the weight is 0.4g below the 8g spec of the halfpenny, the tie ribbon area behind the bust doesn't match either penny or halfpenny very well, with the bottom curl detail as for a penny and the bit above reaching almost to the G, whereas on all the pictures I have available both are quite wispy. Compare with my halfpenny. Apologies for the scan and crap on the scanner.

As nobody else has stepped forward to attempt an answer, I'll give my two penn'uth. Interesting question. Logically, I don't think there can be a small date type other than the one we know with the tall slim 7. But what intrigues me slightly from that list, is the price Spink's were asking as compared to the other 1857's, for a date type that really isn't that scarce even now, 125 years later. You'd think that in 1895, after 38 years, it would have been known about, as the differences are striking, even to the naked eye. I've ordered a copy of Montagu's 1893 book (which was available as a modern paperback reprint for just £10.95 off Amazon), to see if he makes any mention of date types for the 1839 to 1860 period for pennies.