| Author |
 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,873 |
|
Pillar of the Community
Germany
1849 Posts |
As some here may know, I am a dedicated collector of early American coins, including Colonial and Post Colonial issues. One of the time periods which interest me the most are the years just before the Revolution. The William Pitt Halfpenny is perhaps one of the better known issues from this period, imbued as it is with the history of Tax Act of 1765 and the impact which the Act had in the Revolution. The Tax Act was passed by the English Parliament in 1765. It empowered the Crown to tax the American Colonies on a wide range of transactions and documents, as well as some goods of everyday life. The revenue was supposed to go toward the cost of up-keep of a British standing Army in North America. The reaction among the Colonists to the passing of the Tax Act was predictable.... The Pitt issues commemorate the role of William Pitt, an english Statesman and member of Parliament who actually took the side of the colonists and was instrumental in having the Act repealed in 1766. Searching for an example of the scarce, but available Pitt Halfpenny I came across the much scarcer Pitt Farthing instead. Only 22 examples of the Farthing are known (the literature actually calls it a medalet rather than a Farthing). This is a new example to add to the census of existing examples. The medalet is in quite good condition, with a nice planchet and colour. The planchet shows two small, dull dents which luckily did not cause any distracting damage besides some uneven wear around the area of the sails. Weight and diameter are fully within the range of known examples. I am a very happy collector. This is now the centerpiece of my collection not only because it is scarce, but also because of the history it embodies.   Edited by GERMANICVS
10/04/2019 02:20 am
|
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
80 Posts |
Nice piece, handsome fella!! I don't collect from this time period, but I do have a Machin's Mills piece that I'm fond of, especially since I'm from the Newburgh area.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Great example, beautifully photographed.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3325 Posts |
I know nothing about these, but I can certainly appreciate the historic relevance and the aesthetics of the piece. Congratulations.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
|
|
Moderator
 United States
188740 Posts |
Very nice!  |
|
Pillar of the Community
 Germany
1849 Posts |
Thank you, for your comments  very much appreciated. If anyone is interested, the ANS has just published (Sept. 2019) a census of all known examples of the Pitt Farthing. It is very well done and researched, and describes all examples in detail, their history, and their provenance. If it is OK, I will link the site at the NNP where the census can be found: https://nnp.wustl.edu/blog-post/519690Edited by GERMANICVS
10/04/2019 02:46 am
|
|
Valued Member
United States
261 Posts |
Very cool. Thanks for sharing.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2125 Posts |
Great looking planchet! I dream of finding one in a dealer's junk box.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
869 Posts |
Very nice. I have one of these as well, not quite as nice as yours.
"No stamps, No taxation without representation"
To paraphrase the 1st Earl of Chatham
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Germany
1849 Posts |
flag4, thank you for your comment.
As you point out, the issue is directly related to the Tax Act of 1765 and to the American Revolution.
I would love to see your example if you get a chance to post it.
Edited by GERMANICVS
10/21/2019 01:32 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
869 Posts |
Sure thing. It has environmental damage and was improperly cleaned at some point. But it's still an interesting historical piece.   |
|
Pillar of the Community
Germany
1849 Posts |
Thank you very much for posting your William Pitt halfpenny, flag4. That is a nice example with much detail still visible.
Although is is not known where both the farthing and halfpenny were struck (some say Philadelphia, the work of James Smithers, an english-born engraver. Others say England), it is certain they circulated in the American Colonies.
Edited by GERMANICVS
10/22/2019 03:54 am
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
flag4, as germanicvs mentioned your piece is the much more common halfpenny.
Germanicvs is you piece now listed in the census? Is it No 10? (only one without an image, and also a new discovery) I suspect it isn't because there is no mention in the description of #10 of the hit in the left obv field, the dent below MM or the corrosion on the tip of the shoulder. They also say it is in a PCGS slab and yours appears to be raw.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Germany
1849 Posts |
Conder101, no, actually, I have not been able to get in touch with the ANA or the author of the census. So this piece is not yet listed. It would help if I where a member of C4, I guess, but I am not. Having read it with some attention, I estimate this piece fits somewhere around 9-10 in the CC, taking the defects you note into account, but that is only my estimation. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
869 Posts |
Quote:
flag4, as germanicvs mentioned your piece is the much more common halfpenny. Thanks guys for that identification. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Germany
1849 Posts |
Here is an update to this post: This example of the Pitt Farthing has now been added to the Census recently published at the Newman Numismatic Portal. It was assigned CC #15. The updated census can be found here: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/569217This is an excellent document which documents all 25 currently known examples of this token. |
| |
Replies: 21 / Views: 3,873 |
Posted 10/03/2019 12:40 pm
