Commonwealth Halfpenny Nonsense

[Coinery]

Having recently bagged an acceptable shilling, I thought I’d take a look at acquiring a commonwealth type-set, given that it would be quite small…so long as I ignored the dates and mintmarks.

Anyhow, looking around last night, I stumbled across a nice little halfpenny, and decided to dig a little further into the market before buying it, and it’s amazing what you find…

Firstly, that Numista had the misfortune to select an Heritage Auction image of an obvious copy, and secondly that Heritage auctions managed to achieve just under £750 for a different, graded example! Absolutely bonkers!

[Citizen H]

I also recently discovered these 2 commonwealth coins amongst my box of Hammered Coins,

rubbed but nice to have all the same,

......£737.48 😲 gosh! 

 

 

[Coinery]

20 minutes ago, Citizen H said:

I also recently discovered these 2 commonwealth coins amongst my box of Hammered Coins,

rubbed but nice to have all the same,

......£737.48 😲 gosh! 

 

 

You’ve compiled a highly eclectic collection of coins! Great stuff!

[jelida]

I spotted two nicely struck and very acceptable Commonwealth halfpennies at the MCF last Sunday, asking price about £225 in both cases. I bought my own one from a European auction early this year, fully struck up and  less than £180. There are nice examples out there but one on a Timeline Auction went for over £500 IIRC.

Jerry

[Rob]

Yup, madness. I bought the Marshall coin in 2004 and I am perfectly happy with it - £87 delivered. I did have a go at the Lockett piece that was sold recently, but that made silly money,, and I like mine for the quirky shape and outrageously large distinctive tickets that came with the Marshall coins (44m dia).

[copper123]

those must weigh practically nothing

[Coinery]

Mine was £150…a little blocked/soft on the cross, and not a perfect harp. However, it’s excellent metal, it’s round, central, and a credible example I think…it’ll do! ☺️

[Coinery]

1 hour ago, copper123 said:

those must weigh practically nothing

Teeny, tiny, somewhere around 0.25g!

You can’t even detect the weight on a fingertip…a miracle they even survive at all in collectable grades.

[Coinery]

4 hours ago, Rob said:

Yup, madness. I bought the Marshall coin in 2004 and I am perfectly happy with it - £87 delivered. I did have a go at the Lockett piece that was sold recently, but that made silly money,, and I like mine for the quirky shape and outrageously large distinctive tickets that came with the Marshall coins (44m dia).

Lovely strike…also, really love that ticket, what period/date is it?

Could you link me to the Lockett coin, that one didn’t show up in my root around last night?

Edited 22 hours ago by Coinery

[copper123]

I wonder what you might have bought with it a couple of buns a half of beer  an ounce of chease

[jelida]

Here is mine, and nice tone in the hand. Auctioneer’s photos.

Jerry

[Coys55]

Here's my set. The halfpenny is the weakest of the three, but I only paid £43 for it and it's good enough for me.

Weight of the halfpenny is 0.24g.

Edited 5 hours ago by Coys55

[Coinery]

7 hours ago, jelida said:

Here is mine, and nice tone in the hand. Auctioneer’s photos.

Jerry

Very nice and a bargain price…interesting to see that some St George’s crosses are single-hatched, and others’ double-hatched, I wonder what the mintages for the commonwealth coins were, and how many dies? 

[Coinery]

3 hours ago, Coys55 said:

Here's my set. The halfpenny is the weakest of the three, but I only paid £43 for it and it's good enough for me.

Weight of the halfpenny is 0.24g.

Very nice! Interesting that you think the halfpenny the weakest…I’d be really happy with your halfpenny, and especially the halfgroat (really nice), it’s the penny I see as weakest. Lovely set, and a bargain-priced halfpenny