1771 Contemporary Imitation Halfpenny. George III Irish Type. Blacksmith Style. VF-20A superb Irish counterfeit of extremely crude style that has been avidly sought since a similar coin sharing a reverse die was sold in the 1987 auction of the Warren Baker Collection of Canadian Blacksmith Coppers in the Bowers and Merena sale of the Taylor Collection. Mike Ringo collected an example that duplicated both obverse and reverse dies of the Baker Collection example, and his example showed enough of the tops of the date digits to call it 1771. The same reverse was used on AK-48, though with a different obverse than the Baker piece and the coin offered in this lot. So this very rare “Early North American Copper” as these were called in the Baker sale is known in at least 3 different die combinations sharing a common reverse. True to its Blacksmith style, this coin is shallowly and partially struck from ill-prepared and very crudely rendered dies. Little detail was imparted to the coin when struck, and we grade this VF based solely on its glossy and relatively unworn surfaces. Dark brown, smooth and relatively choice, though with evidence of small marks that were undoubtedly in the original planchet and that were not obliterated by the soft strike. Traces of the obverse legends remain, with only REX being complete, while IB NIA of HIBERNIA are visible on the reverse, the N including a bizarre horizontal stroke. Undoubtedly very rare, the remarkably crudity of these Irish types make them perennial favorites on the rare occasions they come to market.
