I received this coin by surprise as part of a lot of pennies is it Contemporary Counterfeit?

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I just received this 1775 Halfpenny coin included in a bulk purchase of pennies. Without any knowledge about this series it looks like it could be a contemporary Counterfeit?

What do you think please a genuine coin or Counterfeit? It's the legends that made me think it's a counterfeit.

It weighs 8 grams exactly.

Thanks

 

Edited yesterday at 05:25 PM by absence of uniformity

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Looking on the LCA website and comparing this coin to examples listed I can see so many differences.

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 Britannia's neck looks stretched 😊

Edited yesterday at 05:53 PM by absence of uniformity

[Paddy]

Yes, looks to be a contemporary counterfeit. Weight should be more 9 to 11g.

Having said that, it is one of the better made counterfeits. Most are much cruder and often produced ready worn.

Note you are correct to say contemporary counterfeit rather than Evasion. The latter are deliberately varied from the original so as not to be classed as an illegal forgery. (Production of counterfeits was a capital offence!)

Here is my regal issue 1772 for comparison. I have lots of 1775, all contemporary counterfeits!

Edited yesterday at 05:46 PM by Paddy
added info

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1 hour ago, Paddy said:

Yes, looks to be a contemporary counterfeit. Weight should be more 9 to 11g.

Having said that, it is one of the better made counterfeits. Most are much cruder and often produced ready worn.

Note you are correct to say contemporary counterfeit rather than Evasion. The latter are deliberately varied from the original so as not to be classed as an illegal forgery. (Production of counterfeits was a capital offence!)

Here is my regal issue 1772 for comparison. I have lots of 1775, all contemporary counterfeits!

Thank you for the response. Having had a chance to look into these further now I found another example the same as my coin with the closed G's looks to be identical. I was quite surpsised to see the price it was listed for and my coin is clearly in much better condition. 

I read some of these coins were sand cast from a period around 25 years prior to the date of manufacture to avoid suspicion and like you say made to look worn. These coins dont look sand cast to me.. I have seen a few coins with very grainy surfaces that do look cast. Its interesting to think when and who made the coin. I breifly read about some similar type coins being made in America aswell.

I read also the 1775 coins are the most common.

That 1772 coin is in great shape, lovely coin thanks for sharing.

 

 

[Peckris 2]

2 hours ago, Paddy said:

Note you are correct to say contemporary counterfeit rather than Evasion. The latter are deliberately varied from the original so as not to be classed as an illegal forgery. (Production of counterfeits was a capital offence!)

NOT correct, not for the USA where after independence in 1776 it wasn't a capital offence to produce and circulate evasions.

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https://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Counterfeit-Halfpenny-Farthing-Families/dp/1642558575/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14MEFGRHTY6VA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JX5fhmyhHaI6aABLBXUR7no3O6h6soBgKW-AjAbApv0.G1xX_uZmFkO89t4llD2yfnV8KtWoK72lyI8qbIR4jmU&dib_tag=se&keywords=Counterfeit+halfpence+roger+moore&qid=1764629185&sprefix=counterfeit+halfpence+roger+moore%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-1

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1 hour ago, Peckris 2 said:

NOT correct, not for the USA where after independence in 1776 it wasn't a capital offence to produce and circulate evasions.

Do you think the coin I have was made in the USA? is there anyway to know?

Not that it makes much difference just interesting, the book i have linked above may have the awnser.

thanks

[Paddy]

11 hours ago, Peckris 2 said:

NOT correct, not for the USA where after independence in 1776 it wasn't a capital offence to produce and circulate evasions.

I believe it was still a capital offence in the UK, where most of the contemporary counterfeits were produced, although the punishment was usually commuted to transportation. The USA was responsible for more of the Evasions, and after independence the laws all changed.

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The following information is for the top coin surrounded in white background;

George III, 1775 Halfpenny. First Issue-Tower mint, London.

Tower Mint, London.

Obverse: Laureate and cuirassed bust of King George III facing right.

Legend: GEORGIVS· III· REX· (King George the third.)

Reverse: Seated figure of Britannia facing left, trident in left hand, olive branch in right, shield with Union flag resting on left, legend around, date in exergue.

Reverse: BRITAN NIA 1775.

Catalogue: Spink# 3773, KM# 601.

Copper, 10g (actual worn weight 9.02), 29mm, edge plain.

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Here is another example of a genuine 1775 coin with the closed G's

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This one I would say is a closer match especially the legends.

Edited 51 minutes ago by absence of uniformity