Great Britain: George III "Pattern" Halfpenny 1796, ...

Description

George III "Pattern" Halfpenny 1796, Peck 924, MS65 BN NGC. Peck describes this Obverse as "GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA" with the draped bust to left laureated and armored...toothed border. Reverse, BRITANNIA. Britannia seated to left...1796 toothed border. This coin is Extremely Rare in copper. "Nothing has been found in the records about this piece but in view of the low relief of the designs...characteristics of Pingo's shilling and sixpence (et al) it is probable that this piece was done by the same artist. Its appearance eight years after the first Pingo and Droz patterns presents an unexpected and inexplicable reversion to the style of the 1770-75 issue." Peck goes on to say that the "rev. is little better than some of the best contemporary counterfeits, and the flan is miserably thin. Second thoughts in fact arouse doubts as to whether it is really a pattern, as apart from its poor quality and obsolescent rev. design the head to left is hard to reconcile with a pattern for George III." The addition of DEI GRATIA is also a first since the coins of Anne, d1714.

Taking all the above into consideration, and focusing on the date 1796 a bit more, it isn't difficult to postulate that this was struck as a Pattern for the Provincial Token Coinage of the Eighteenth Century as described in Dalton and Hamer. Maybe the designer realized that this was too close to the regal coinage and decided it wasn't worth the threat to have this produced. Or, it was struck as an example for an unofficial American issue, and, after all was said and done, it was just too late for use in the United States. Collectors of the George II and III contemporary counterfeit coinage should have a very close look at the reverse of this piece to see if it fits in with anything they have. One could hope that we will all be pleasantly surprised to see this piece reach or exceed...

More information about Great Britain Coins. See also: Great Britain World Coin Nationality.

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