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1072

1773 Counterfeit George III British Halfpenny, Aging George Family, Dies 35-73I. 134.4 grains.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:NA
1773 Counterfeit George III British Halfpenny, Aging George Family, Dies 35-73I. 134.4 grains.
1773 Counterfeit George III British Halfpenny, Aging George Family, Dies 35-73I. 134.4 grains.Uncirculated, a rare grade for any counterfeit issue which, after all, were made to circulate. Boldly struck, the legends and date full, the design detail razor sharp on either side – so bold that die finishing lines can be seen in the fields around Britannia on the reverse, fine detail that quickly wore off in circulation. The obverse is a medium chocolate brown with surfaces that have some light roughness under a glass; the reverse is a shade or two lighter, and with surfaces that are hard and choice. This difference in color and surface literally tells the story of why the coin remained choice – it was in a collector’s cabinet, obverse side up, likely for a century or more. The heavy weight (which is typical for this family) and good detail may have fooled an early collector into thinking it was a genuine Tower Mint product. The few counterfeits that do exist in Uncirculated grades are often better-made types like this and the Coin X Family, which hew close to regal weight standards and would have stood out in contrast against lighter weight and more crude counterfeits (and one can occasionally find a high grade counterfeit from these families slabbed as a genuine, regal, coin). Purchased from Mike Ringo, still in his handwritten envelope where he also calls the piece Unc. – this is a rare grade for Mike to have sold, unless he had a duplicate in equal or better condition!
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