That all sounds more interesting. It always sounds more interesting when an actual collection that someone has bought over the years is concerned....rather than an accumulation of what is usually scrap metal! 1863 with a smaller straighter '3' is Freeman 294. It's scarcer but I don't think incredibly rare. There are other members here that know halfpennies better. $5.44 seems an odd price to pay for anything, so is $544.00! I wouldn't have thought it would have been as much as the latter in 1976. Be great to see a picture. I'm an active buyer of British coins, you could send them to me for a quote, which is always 60% of how I price them.