1923 Specimen Strike Half Penny

[Patrick2023]

This is my first post and I like to share a coin I bought. CGS AU78 1923 Specimen (Ex The Soho Collection, London Coins Auction A175, December 2021, Lot 2104 and London Coins Auction A126, September 2009, Lot 1272). The coin has reddish brown toning with a nice luster on both sides. Field is smooth and with a few tiny marks or nicks. There is light cabinet wear on the reverse. London Coins commented that "the rims although equal in height to the currency coin are more raised from the fields".

As I am new to British copper coinage, I am interested in learning. I am not sure how to spot a Specimen coin from a normal MS Coin of this period. From what I can see on hand the biggest differences compared to circulation coins are the device and luster. The device is sharper (especially king's bust) while more grainy in appearance. Lusters are only present close to the rim compared to the whole field on circulation coins.

[Patrick2023]

Rev Images

[secret santa]

I would expect a specimen strike to be much, much sharper than this.

[VickySilver]

I concur. The reverse in particular at the helm, drapery, arm and breastplate. The 1924 satin specimen halfpenny was struck as such and will see if I can find a picture If Richard can not, but it looks quite different as you will likely see.

From the label it sounds good, but the actual coin even if better than average does not seem to fit.

[VickySilver]

Here is the reverse of one specimen 1924 half penny. 

[VickySilver]

Obverse

[copper123]

Was not the major thing at this time trying to get rid of "Ghosting" it had plagued all early george V pennies and was a particular hate of the king who himself who was a collector , so it would not surprise me if these were made by the mint and given away as keepsakes to important  visitors

[jelida]

Interestingly when LCA first sold this coin, in 2009, they mention the sharp obverse strike and describe it as ‘possibly a specimen’.  Therefore also possibly not….but the label seems to have stuck by the 2021 sale. At least the price was fairly reasonable - which also suggests that collectors were not convinced - and it is clearly a nice example of a 1923 halfpenny.

Jerry

[Peckris 2]

4 hours ago, copper123 said:

Was not the major thing at this time trying to get rid of "Ghosting" it had plagued all early george V pennies and was a particular hate of the king who himself who was a collector , so it would not surprise me if these were made by the mint and given away as keepsakes to important  visitors

It is thought that experimentation with that had already occurred by 1923, that is *IF* the 1922 penny with similar reverse to 1927 was actually struck in 1922 (my own thought is that it could well have been struck later - to strike a few pennies with a date of 1923/24/25 could have been problematic if they got out).

[VickySilver]

I hadn’t thought the issue as big for the halfpennies or farthings compared with the pennies

[Patrick2023]

10 hours ago, VickySilver said:

I concur. The reverse in particular at the helm, drapery, arm and breastplate. The 1924 satin specimen halfpenny was struck as such and will see if I can find a picture If Richard can not, but it looks quite different as you will likely see.

 From the label it sounds good, but the actual coin even if better than average does not seem to fit.

I agree with you, I think the coin falls between a specimen and a circulation strike. I have attached some better quality photos. The bust looks quite well struck for me but Britannia detail is very soft.

[VickySilver]

IMHO a nice currency strike, but I have seen a number of 1923 and 1924 halfpennies that look quite nice. BTW, the other satin specimen 1924 looks a lot better....

[oldcopper]

"the rims although equal in height to the currency coin are more raised from the fields".

A nonsense comment from LC. If the field was lower in relation to the rims which are the same thickness as normal currency, then the coin would have been struck on a thinner flan and thus be lighter. 

As there's no mention of a light weight, presumably it is of normal weight and hence normal flan thickness. So any suggested lower field observation is just an optical illusion.

[Iannich48]

6 hours ago, oldcopper said:

"the rims although equal in height to the currency coin are more raised from the fields".

A nonsense comment from LC. If the field was lower in relation to the rims which are the same thickness as normal currency, then the coin would have been struck on a thinner flan and thus be lighter. 

As there's no mention of a light weight, presumably it is of normal weight and hence normal flan thickness. So any suggested lower field observation is just an optical illusion.

Yes indeed, I doubt if the fields are lower than usual.

[copper123]

The truth is if you yourself are convinced its a special strike then bid a bit extra for it , it can never be proved if it is, or isn't, but if you yourself can see a reason to bid extra for it then there has to be others out there that would belive the same .

Personally I would never pay a masive premium for one of these coins but hey,  I am not the whole of the English collecting public am I?

[DrLarry]

it might be easier to set it free from its plastic tomb and take a picture , the poor thing just might be suffering from plastic entombment syndrome .  Most of us set our canaries free , but I suppose when there is a question of its "label" you could always sell it to an American who will accept with reverence anything written on a label.  

[VickySilver]

I seem to recall as this coin came up for auction and looked at it. With all due respect rejected it sadly as a specimen or proof. As I have said, and have had both of the 1924 satin specimen halfpennies had some interest in it. But not to be a killjoy and hope you enjoy this one...

[Patrick2023]

Here are some pictures of the raw coin. On hand, the specimen designation does seem far fetched. The coin is more likely to be a good quality early strike. Interestingly the Obv die is new while the Rev die does have a promaint die crack along the trident.

[Patrick2023]

Rev pictures