1787 Machins Mills Halfpenny. Vlack 23-87C, W-7980. Rarity-7-. GEORGIVS III, Group III. Fine Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS).100.2 grains. A major rarity in the Machins Mills series. Combines an obverse most often seen on the common 1788 Vlack 23-88A with the prolific 87C reverse used on several other Machins Mills varieties as well as the Ryder 13 Vermont copper. Both dies are in extremely worn states and its conceivable this was the very last Machins Mills counterfeit British halfpenny variety struck. Discovered by Mike Ringo and published in the June 1988 <em>Colonial Newsletter</em>, only a dozen or so examples have turned up since, most being low grade and/or damaged. This is actually a rather nice example of this always rustic-looking variety. Predominantly light brown with a bit of darker color here and there. Somewhat rough in texture yet still glossy, most of the roughness is due to the flawed planchet and any actual environmental damage is minor. The obverse is free of notable marks while the reverse just has a few light scrapes and a little damage at the date area.PCGS# 914455.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Ray Williams; Vicken Yegparian; Ed Sarrafian; John Agre and Dave Wnuck (Coin Rarities Online), June 2005.
