oldcopper

Quite a spectacular overstrike. As Rob says, the GV/B was a discovery piece in the Nicholson collection of 2004 (lot 153), although Nicholson had lost it at the time, and was "still looking for it", so it wasn't for sale!

Yes, not helped by the fact most survive in terrible condition and most were not even properly struck in the first place.

According to Peck barred A's never occur on 1701 halfpence.

I do, but unfortunately it's not for sale. It doesn't give any more information (and neither for the pictured and succeeding lot 323 plain edged, bevelled rim type) than is quoted in L&S. I haven't got the prices realised, and there don't appear to be any estimates (either listed or with the entries) in the catalogue.

Unless it's struck on a thinner flan, a sterling silver version would be about 15% heavier than the cupro-nickel version (from the specific gravity/density comparisons).

Probably be worth more if it was a forgery. I have never come across any W&M copper forgeries. Come to think of it I haven't seen any Wm III copper ones either (though I have got one in lead from what looks like genuine dies). There were so many made at that time (£700 tons of copper coin made 1694-1701) that there was not the shortage of the mid- to late-18th century that triggered that huge production of copper forgeries.

I like the E&D/BG Wm IV coins as the busts are all taken from current Wm IV British coins, so this is his sixpence head, the guilder has the shilling bust, the 1/4 guilder has one of the maundy busts and the 2 and 3 guilders have the slightly amended halfpenny and penny busts.

Thanks. And Spinks lighting makes the marks more obvious.

Comparing the 1837 in both catalogues shows the very unflattering colour quality of the Adam's catalogue. Only fully BU coins or near so showed any orange, and the 1837 didn't look lustrous at all.

I was the underbidder, but thought hundreds would have spotted it, so didn't hold out too much hope. Perhaps I should have gone a bid or two higher.

I presume they'll still be on the CNG website archive.

Yes, sorry, I was just talking about the copper as it would have more relevance to them buying the more expensive Workman pieces.

Though I can't be sure of course, I don't think Atlas bought them as they have got a good eye for copper that they can buy at reasonable prices, mark up strongly and still sell, so eg coronets at what would be $30k plus would feel like a stretch. Also I have never seen them risk buying unprecedentedly really expensive copper ie none of the copper from Cope 1 has turned up on their website (which I check reasonably regularly) with the exception of that relatively cheap 1849. Recent earlier sky-high copper (eg 2023, 1699 halfpenny plus farthing ex Heritage) hasn't appeared with them either to my knowledge. They got the 1849 for a good price and if I'd hung around for it, I might have bid up to that figure if not more. It was less bright in the hand than the 1837 though.

American perhaps? and the same person probably got a lot at the first Geoffrey Cope auction. You get the feeling whoever it is has an unlimited budget and likes their big ticket copper and bronze proofs and patterns. A bad combination for the rest of us!

I thought that for part 1, until the prices for the ones I wanted went ballistic.