1785 Contemporary Imitation Halfpenny. George III English Type. Newman 52-85C. Choice Very Fine.116.5 grains. When this coin appeared in the Newman Collection auction in 2018, it brought $9,000, an incredible result that was a testament to this die pairings rarity as well as the high quality of this coin. Rich chocolate brown on the obverse, the devices and legends a lighter hue in contrast; the reverse is a deep maroon-brown with similarly lighter high points and some old circular marks in the fields. This is the coin used to plate both obverse 52 and reverse 85C in Newmans seminal 1988 article Counterfeit British Style Halfpence of 1785. Syd enjoyed this major rarity among 1785 halfpence for just 2 years before his untimely passing, and we hope this coin proves a keystone in its next owners collection of the die marriages of this storied and rare date of counterfeit halfpence.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Heritages sale of the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part XI, November 2018, lot 15045.