| Author |
 Replies: 11 / Views: 972 |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
131 Posts |
I was wondering if this was a fake since it has the risen dots, which I was told could be indicative of a fake. Its obverse also doesn't match any of the ones ive been able to find. Along with a couple other "issues" I noticed that are of concern.   I marked the casting spots? (im assuming) with yellow and red the places that are off. The leaves on mine are pointing right at the bottom dot and middle of the 2 while I can't find a single obverse with the same.  The trident head has extra metal and looks off to me.  |
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17904 Posts |
It looks OK to me. It doesn't look of recent manufacture - I can understand the Chinese making high-grade Victorian halfpennies nowadays, but even in 1862 it was hardly worth while forging a halfpenny. If you were going to all that trouble making dies or casts, you might as well make a florin or halfcrown and give it a silver wash. I think the raised dots could be die chips or rust spots. Dies were being very heavily worked in the 1860s as The Royal Mint was making large numbers of bronze coins to replace the heavy old coppers, which were not finally demonetised until 1869. I am no expert in the different dies, but far less reseatch has been done on halfpenny varieties than with pennies. It's quite possible you may have found an unrecorded variety. That doesn't necessarily mean it's rare: hardly any coin dealers in the UK would bother to check a Victorian halfpenny for types (other than 1860 beaded/toothed varieties and the 1889/8 overdate). |
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
945 Posts |
I don't know about the raised marks and Rob probably has the most likely expectation, although to some extent it looks like splatter from some other metal work? I am not sure how you believe this differs from the standard Obverse 7 design for an 1862 Half penny? I have borrowed this image from another website, which shows the Obverse 7, and seems to be the same in respect of the leaves at the top of Victoria's head. Am I missing other differences? (I do find spotting varieties difficult!)  |
|
Valued Member
 United States
131 Posts |
Perfect! thank you guys a lot for clearing that up for me, I appreciate it a lot.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
945 Posts |
Just for completeness, the reverse of the OP coin is G - the most usual for the 1862 date. Sadly no letters close to the lighthouse, which would make it much scarcer.
For this variety there are examples with and without the rocks to the left of the lighthouse. The OP coin has the rocks - as yet no clear guidance as to whether this is more or less common than those without the rocks.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
This is my own example if it might be helpful. 9 year old pictures but the coin hasn't changed!   Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
|
Valued Member
United States
131 Posts |
Nice! I appreciate all the help a lot. I got it for a spot filler but noticed the risen spots and was worried it was a fake so I really appreciate yalls input, in the book it goes.
Paralyse - Yours is a different obverse and reverse I believe. Yours is without spade rocks with a different angle for the top leaves. Yours is the one I imagined was the original strike when I was buying them (with the rocks though).
PaddyB - Thank you for all the help and specifying the back for the that was helpful, I appreciate all your input!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
945 Posts |
Ah - Paralyse's is a penny instead of a halfpenny, which is why both sides look so different! For the 1862 halfpenny all the obverses identified are type 7. Reverses can be types E, F, G and H. G is the normal one, types E and F usually go with die letters near the lighthouse and are very scarce. Type H occurs in proof only for this year. See https://halfpennyvarieties.wordpress.com/ if you want to learn more about halfpennies. |
|
Valued Member
United States
131 Posts |
Ahh makes sense lol thanks for clearing that up for me, I have no clue on British coins just trying to fill these books I have with whatever I can find.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
Oh, my fault! I must have misread OP.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
|
Valued Member
United Kingdom
69 Posts |
if its real, its in fantastic condition, mine are all well worn.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
95077 Posts |
Looks like a good one to me as well..  |
| |
Replies: 11 / Views: 972 |
|
Posted 05/02/2024 2:59 pm
