Halfpenny Help William III

[The Bee 71]

Hi, 

I very recently bought a 1964 edition of English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins by W. C. Peck (I have accumulated quite a few earlier halfpennies and farthings)

I'm trying to make sure I describe them correctly 

This circulated example is from 1699 . I assumed it was Pack 687, but on looking closer the first A in BRITANNIA looks to be unbarred ? (the second A isn't so clear but might have part of a bar)

I wondered if this was normal for the standard 1699 ? [The obverse looks a bit better than the reverse]

Best Regards 

 

 

 

[The Bee 71]

Here is the other A and obverse

[Paddy 1,637]

Nice example. I would think it would go down as Peck 689 - both bars missing. The comment in Peck about numerous errors and the use of inverted Vs for As would cover the possibility of a partial bar I think.

I have one of these too, but not as good as yours!

 

[copper123 1,463]

Lovely coin a cocktail stick might help

Edited November 25 by copper123

[The Bee 71]

Many thanks for the confirmation. I'm sure others have better William III halfpennies. I have another example with super patina, really tactile. Though I think I'd be afraid of damaging the surface of this one with a cocktail stick. I'd need a lot more practise

Below is the result of gently removing lots of old DNA and gunk from another 1861 halfpenny - I know its not valuable. It may be quite common for find, and of course there will be many better examples out there, but currently its the best I've come across T over T, R over R, and E over E (even the colon looks overstruck !)

Best Regards

  

[The Bee 71]

Lastly on old halfpennies, below is another "back of a PVC coin album" find. Its presumably been struck off centre.

I think its dated 1696 . Might have had a coating of something on it (you can see a different colour ? appearing through the obverse)  

[copper123 1,463]

yes thats a 1696

[The Bee 71]

Many thanks copper123 !

Below I've attached a low res image of the obverse - with what looks like a patch of different coloured metal showing through the worn surface.

Maybe the halfpenny was minted (offset) and then coated in something .

Best Regards 

[The Bee 71]

Q. Reverse E Halfpenny ?

One last query is the image below an example of a reverse E halfpenny ? (possibly 4 E its an 1861)

I assume it might be, as the lighthouse seems to be different from my other examples and L C W is on the rock above the date - great to get confirmed if possible

Best Regards !

[Zo Arms 274]

On 11/26/2024 at 8:29 AM, The Bee said:

Q. Reverse E Halfpenny ?

One last query is the image below an example of a reverse E halfpenny ? (possibly 4 E its an 1861)

I assume it might be, as the lighthouse seems to be different from my other examples and L C W is on the rock above the date - great to get confirmed if possible

Best Regards !

Yes. That's reverse E. The only reverse with LCW.

Photo of the obverse please.

Edited Wednesday at 08:27 PM by Zo Arms
Additional text.

[The Bee 71]

Many thanks Zo Arms

Here is the full obverse and reverse. I assume its 4 E 

Very Best Regards

 

[Zo Arms 274]

2 hours ago, The Bee said:

Many thanks Zo Arms

Here is the full obverse and reverse. I assume its 4 E 

Very Best Regards

 

Obverse 5.

The giveaway is the dent on her forehead. Another pointer, is the scalloped middle leaf, top three. Both are peculiar to obv 5, as is the LCW, to reverse E.

It can also be identified by the centre veins of the leaves. Whether single or double.

The REG F D colons also have a different relationship with the inner circle compared to the other, 1 thru 7 obverses.

Bob.

Edited Thursday at 12:18 AM by Zo Arms

[The Bee 71]

Many thanks - really helpful. I will amend the description to 5 E. 

I will have a look at Secret Santa's halfpenny Victoria obverses again and see if I can get my head around the REG F D colons, to help if I find more worn circulated examples

Very Best Regards and thanks again !

 

 

[Zo Arms 274]

5 hours ago, The Bee said:

Many thanks - really helpful. I will amend the description to 5 E. 

I will have a look at Secret Santa's halfpenny Victoria obverses again and see if I can get my head around the REG F D colons, to help if I find more worn circulated examples

Very Best Regards and thanks again !

 

 

You won't find any published info on the REG F D colons. Purely my own observations.

However, for obverse 4, 5, 6 and 7, there are differences, albeit subtle, between their relationship to the linear circle and themselves.

Bit like riding a bike really . Once you've established it in your head, you don't forget. I'm sure the penny boys all have their own personal pointers.

Have a read of the Halfpenny ID thread as well as Richards halfpenny site. Both are very informative.

Bob.

[The Bee 71]

Many thanks Bob,

It will certainly take a while. So many Victorian halfpennies I find, really did their job and have had a good life in circulation. 

I had a look earlier this evening at Richard's excellent halfpenny site again. My 1861, I over I in Britt looks like a basic 7 G. While my much more worn 1861 reverse E could be obverse 6

Many thanks again

Very Best Regards

 

[The Bee 71]

Hi,

Wondered if this might be Obverse 1 ? (I may have misidentified it) . It is an 1860 Beeded Halfpenny, one of the best (if not the best) early QV halfpennies I have 

What is puzzling me, when I look at tips of the 3 leaves at the top or front of the wreath,  the lower leaf seems to extend only as far as the upper leaf ?

Great to get your thoughts (it lives in the first slot of my QV halfpenny tray)

Very Best Regards

[Zo Arms 274]

Yes. The beaded border only appears on obverse 1 and reverse A. Toothed from then on.

Yours has a tie knot at the top of the ribbon bows. That little pellet looking thing just before the hair starts, so obverse 1.

If this were absent, that would be obverse 1* (freeman) or 1A using Dracotts system. Again, beaded.

[The Bee 71]

Many thanks Bob,

That was really helpful and of course sent me off looking at the rest of my 1860 beeded halfpennies

I think every example that I have (I will double check) is 1 A and so far I have no examples the of 1* A

While it might not be of interest, while looking for 1* A, I realised I had one possibly slightly unusual example of a 1 A (my second best)

It has been double struck. There are traces of a 2nd linear circle, C T and possibly A in Victoria show doubling, the letters in BRITT show doubling, and the bottom of the R in REG is missing

There may also be some slight doubling on the portrait of QV

Very Best Regards and many thanks again for your help 

 

[Martinminerva 304]

32 minutes ago, The Bee said:

It has been double struck.

Hi again, Richard. These are actually repairs to the die rather than a true double striking. Most conspicuous is the linear circle repair around REG - the new circle touches the tops of the letters whilst the vestiges of the original circle above the letters can still be seen. Similarly,  just before BRITT the new linear circle isn't actually circular, but rather undercuts what's left of the original. Interesting, yes, but of no huge significance - die repairs in the early years of the Viccy bronze series are rampant! Looks like the R in REG would be the next letter due a repair! A true double striking would see consistent duplication rather than scattergun.

Edited Friday at 08:58 PM by Martinminerva
Addition.