LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 February Long Beach Signature Coin #460  / 

2989

1793 1/2P Washington Ship Halfpenny, Copper,

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1793 1/2P Washington Ship Halfpenny, Copper,
<B>1793 1/2P Washington Ship Halfpenny, Copper, Plain Edge XF45 PCGS.</B></I> Breen-1226, R.8. The 1965 update has a marginal note about this piece at the listing for Baker-18, the note written by George Fuld. Struck from the standard dies for the Ship halfpenny, except it has a plain edge. It is a late die state with heavily buckled dies, as Breen described at his <I>Encyclopedia </B></I>entry 1225.<BR> In his reference, Breen mentions the existence of just three known examples of the plain edge variation: 1. Unlocated British Collection; 2. George Fuld; John Roper (Stack's, 12/1983), lot 376; 3. New Jersey specialist; 1975 EAC Sale (Pine Tree, 2/1975), lot 491.<BR> Examination of the plates in the 1975 EAC catalog and the 1983 Roper catalog clearly show that they are the identical piece, instead of different examples. The present specimen, while similar in quality and appearance to the Roper coin, is clearly a different specimen. It seems possible that either this piece or the Roper coin could be the same as the British specimen mentioned by Breen. He assumed his British Collection specimen must exist, as it was listed in a 1910 British reference, yet he had never actually seen the coin, and apparently no one else had either.<BR> Considering the above, we feel safe suggesting that there are just two or three known plain edge pieces. Both sides of this specimen have smooth olive-brown surfaces with splashes of darker brown. Small areas of maroon patina are evident on each side, much as they are on the Roper coin, but in different locations. An extraordinary opportunity for the advanced Colonial collection or the specialist in Washingtonia.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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