1777 Circulating Counterfeit Halfpenny. Vlack 10-77A. Rarity7+. Machins Mills Related. VF Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS). 25.7 mm. 74.4 grains. An exciting new entry into this field, and a newly discovered example of a very rare die pairing. The PCGS "details" designation is apparently for the light but even porosity seen across both sides, but there is little else to point to in explanation and, in fact, the surfaces are comfortably as choice as the last one of these we sold, called "VF-30" by the same service. The color is pleasant deep chocolate-brown with some slightly lighter accents on the highest points of the obverse relief. Some very faint and ancient scratches can be detected under close study, but none is distracting in the least. This piece was struck unevenly and on a much lighter flan than the one in our November 2020 sale. As a result, there is lacking detail centered on the lower right quadrant of the obverse and the corresponding area of the reverse at the upper right. Most of the letters in GEORGIVS are visible as are the feet of III. REX is missing completely. The portrait is respectably sharp, all things considered. The reverse shows BRITAN and the date clearly, while the lower left central design features are reasonably clear. What appears to be a natural flan imperfection is noted at 6 oclock relative to the obverse.<p>This seems to have been struck from the Vlack-77A reverse in an earlier state than seen on the November 2020 <em>E Pluribus Unum</em> Collection coin, as what is visible of the reverse design appears to be much nicer formed, whereas the other coin exhibits crudely degraded styling.<p>As noted in our November 2020 catalog, this is "one of the rarest counterfeits included on Bob Vlacks plates, though [it is] unlinked to the Machins Mills series that Vlack first organized. Breen termed this variety provenance uncertain, though conceded to be American. Eric Newman wrote to Gary Trudgen that he did not own a Vlack 10-77A, but did have five other different 1777 British half pence." We noted five or six known specimens in 2020, and this one would be an addition. While not as sharp as the last we handled, it is vastly superior to the Mike Ringo specimen we sold in our (Stacks) 2008 Americana Sale. That one was holed and only called Fair-2, as precious little design remined. It still realized $2,760.<p>Though soft in detail, as made, this one will easily be recognized as a very choice specimen overall. Undoubtedly, Eric Newman would have been delighted to own it, and a number of todays specialists will be most pleased to fill a difficult collection void that Mr. Newman was unable to.
