1770 Contemporary Counterfeit Halfpenny. George III English Type. MS-63 Red-Brown.，131.2 grains. A very high grade for one of these contemporary counterfeits, abundant original mint color inhabiting the fields and protected areas of this glossy chocolate brown example. Dies well worn on both sides, the planchet is a bit small for the dies, cutting off the tops of some letters and the bottoms of the date digits, not unusual for the 1770 counterfeits. Britannias face is very well formed and expressive, and the die work on the overall is very good, meaning that this coin would have easily passed as genuine in the late 18th century, and probably even today among uninitiated numismatists.
