I've had a good day

[Rob]

No definite Soho proof 1807 halfpennies are known, all being attributed to the work of Taylor who had to make an 1807 obverse die rather than modify an existing one as was usually the case due to their absence. To my knowledge, to date, no proposal as to how this was done with proof has come to light. The following therefore is a new variety.

Peck on p.383 states that it was uncertain how Taylor concocted the 1807 obverse for the restrike proof halfpennies. The answer is Nicholson 306. Despite having had this coin for the past two years, I only noticed yesterday that the 7 of the date has the features of a 6 on and around it. The actual die used for this pupose is clearly one with the broken jewel bust used on KH35, 36 and 37, but at present it is not possible to positively identify which die provides the definitive link due to polishing and partial recutting. The half way stage between an 1806 proof halfpenny and a die with fully recut characters is therefore an unrecorded new variety.

The method used to create the new die was to fill in the 6 (along with other features of the die) and then punch in the 7 etc. This coin provides the link because it shows the 6 detail on the 7 as a result of the initial 7 being punch to less depth than the original 6. This is not seen on restrike 1807 halfpennies as all of the date and legend are fully recut to a greater depth with thicker angular letters and no trace of an underlying 6 is visible, an observation also made by Peck who clearly cannot have seen this piece.

The 7 shown below has the underlying 6 positioned slightly higher so that the top of the six is above the 7 and the loop of the 6 is mostly in the angle.

This project is currently ongoing.

[Peter]

Poor old Peck would have loved a scanner.

Nice work.

[Rob]

I now know the 1807 die was produced from the KH37 obverse die.

As a result of purchasing the 1807 proof halfpenny at this week's auction at Baldwins which is another later intermediate piece, I now need any images of 1807 proof halfpennies from anyone who has one or knows someone who has one. There is a reasonable degree of urgency as I have written an article which will be in the next volume (77) of the BNJ but which now needs to be updated in light of the above. Help please.

[Rob]

There is a reasonable degree of urgency as I have written an article which will be in the next volume (77) of the BNJ but which now needs to be updated in light of the above. Help please.

Sorry, that should be the next but one volume, but everything has to be there by the end of this year.