1785 Contemporary Imitation Halfpenny. George III English Type. Newman 51-85B. Very Fine.112.1 grains. A distinctive example of this die pairing, the obverse exhibiting a strange incusation at 9 oclock that appears to be some sort of mint-made struck through rather than damage, while the reverse is the <em>plate coin</em> for reverse 50B in Eric Newmans seminal 1988 article Counterfeit British Style Halfpence of 1785. Surfaces are a light golden brown and are essentially perfect for the grade, displaying just the random light marks expected of a mid-grade circulated copper. The reverse is in what we believe is the usually seen die state featuring the large die flaw or break that appears like a flamboyant hat trailing the top of Britannias head, which is joined by an often overlooked smaller die break at the back of her head and neck. This coin was evidently retained by Ringo when he sold his collection of 1785 halfpence in the 1998 C4 Sale, selling it to Syd 7 years later; the Ringo sale coin is the only other example we know that sold at auction.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Richard August, November 1985; Mike Ringo, September 2005.
