1781 Contemporary Imitation Halfpenny. George III English Type. Newman 40-81A. Choice Very Fine.140.2 grains. A really rather choice example of the date of which 7 die combinations are known, a date first written up by Eric Newman in ANS <em>Museum Notes</em> 33 in 1988. Glossy chocolate brown surfaces host a group of small bagmarks as well as some minor detritus above the second N of BRITANNIA. Die states appear to be later than usually seen, the dies apparently badly clashed with strong vestigial remains of an incuse Britannia head and the incused and reversed letters BRITAN visible through GEORGIVS on the obverse; RE of REX also appears to be sunken and failing. We have sold 2 lower grade examples over the years, while Newmans was rough and called Fine though showing better than VF detail, and Mike Ringos collection sold at C4 in 1998 included a stupendous example graded MS63! This may well be one of the prettiest mid-grade survivors known of the die combination.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Lanz USA via eBay, October 2014.
