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1088

1775 Counterfeit George III British Halfpenny, possibly part of the Roman Head Family. 135.0 grains.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:NA
1775 Counterfeit George III British Halfpenny, possibly part of the Roman Head Family. 135.0 grains.
1775 Counterfeit George III British Halfpenny, possibly part of the Roman Head Family. 135.0 grains.Technically Uncirculated, with traces of original mint red around some of the obverse letters and date, but weakly struck and on a poorly-annealed planchet that shows some striae and light roughness – without the mint red this would be graded EF as that weakly struck area would look like wear. That weak area the hair area on King George’s head right above his neck, to about halfway up his head, and the face of the Britannia figure, while all the other details are razor-sharp, and the legends and date all bold. From a late obverse die state, with a cud at the back of the king’s head, right above the bow, and extending into the field. The surfaces, as mentioned, have light striae that appears to be roughness at first glance, but a glass shows this was the actual surface quality of the blank planchet. The ample traces of red are pleasing, and the few marks appear to be more from the trouncing sack than from actual circulation. Like the above, this appears to be part of this ill-defined family, and while the reverse has many characteristics of a Young Head family piece, including the use of a J instead of a 1 in the date, it is unknown how these two families are related – dies could have been engraved by the same hand, at different times, which seems probable since the Roman Head issues tend to come heavier than 120 grains, while the Young Heads tend to average around the 90-grain mark. A charming, wholly original coin.
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