1862 Half Penny 7+G No rocks left of LH?

[Paddy]

I found a bunch of Victorian Halfpennies in reasonable condition recently. Going through them to check for varieties, I came across this one, which seems different. It should be 7+G on the Freeman system, but all the other reverse Gs I have seen have a large rocky outcrop to the left of the Lighthouse and above the sea line - this has nothing there. Is it just the result of a blocked die or is it a different reverse?

 

[Paddy]

... Close up of rocks area:

 

[Paddy]

1 minute ago, DrLarry said:

but then as I type that I have another with the door and the rock is there 

The door seems to be a good indicator for reverse G, which as I understand it should be the norm for 1862 unless it also has a very rare Die letter (A, B or C). So I would expect al to be reverse G - but there seems to be a reasonable proportion without the rocks - hence the query. Is it a different reverse, or just a blocked die on a normal G?

 

[Paddy]

Wow, @DrLarry you have got your teeth into this one! Has anyone else noted this missing rock pile before?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Paddy]

6 minutes ago, DrLarry said:

I dont really know I have never come across anyone having looked at it.  I have to honest with you Paddy and say I noted it before but I just never read much about it.  Certainly there does seem to be some alteration of all the letters up the side.  The only problem with this I have is why on earth would you not remodel that ugly lighthouse at the time, but perhaps it acts as a buffer to prevent damage to the Britannia.  I enjoy sharpening my teeth my friend.  

if not you better register it, as I say I have not looked in any or either Peck or Freeman half pennies appear not to be sexy enough for most.  Personally I love them I think I have 10 or 12 error types on my list for each the 1861 and 62.  who do you tell ?  

 

No idea! I presume if there is anyone hot on the topic, they will take note and maybe add it to a later publication. But as no one seems too interested in Half Pennies at the moment, I suspect there is no one to do it...

 

[Paddy]

6 minutes ago, DrLarry said:

when I have found a new something or other I did get in touch with someone who will be putting together the freeman editions in the future and they did note down the errors and said it would get listed, (not your rock I hasten to add ) that is your rock and you must now carry it  off into your own ownership LOL  .  I will have about 20 alterations for the two as I mentioned many of them re-punches and perhaps that will swell the coffers of the half penny market a little.  I find them useful in allowing me to see my patterns ...more so often than pennies and cheaper  .....LOL

Who?

 

[Rob]

23 minutes ago, Paddy said:

Wow, @DrLarry you have got your teeth into this one! Has anyone else noted this missing rock pile before?

Thanks for all your help.

 

I have one which I bought in 2005 for this very reason. It was in a NGC 65 slab, 2750257-017. I don't know if it is imaged on their site.

[Paddy]

14 minutes ago, Rob said:

I have one which I bought in 2005 for this very reason. It was in a NGC 65 slab, 2750257-017. I don't know if it is imaged on their site.

Thanks @Rob the NGC site confirms the details but has no pictures.

@Chris Perkins - are you interested in this sort of new variation for later reprints of Freeman (or otherwise)?

 

[Mr T]

Prone to fill? I don't have any 1862 halfpennies but the reverse G image in Freeman doesn't appear to show a full crop of rocks compared to Malcolm Lewendon's reverse G (though neither of those images are of an 1862 halfpenny - they're 1867 and 1864 respectively).

[Chris Perkins]

Interesting stuff.

[Bronze & Copper Collector]

Iain Dracott mentions it in his description of reverse G in his 2004 article.

Item 4 in his description.

"4.  Some reverse G have missing rocks left of lighthouse, mainly on 1861-1863."

[Mal]

Hi All

This variety is recorded in Peck on page 433 entry 1778 and pictured at Plate 38, I. I also have a specimen dated 1861, which is Freeman dies 7+G with the same 'rocks' missing, which he did not note. Incidentally, has anyone ever considered that those missing 'rocks' are , in fact, a wave breaking over the flatter rocks?