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Collectors Reference Area 1 George III 1799 Halfpenny
I have been passionately persuing all known varieties of 1799 halfpenny for some years now and have managed to find and catalogue nearly all of the known varieties. I hope that this area will help you identify the halfpenny that you have. All the standard varieties are drawn from - English Copper Tin and Bronze Coins by C Wilson Peck - Coins in the British Museum 1558-1958, second edition, second printing 1970, British Museum.
George III 1799 KH 22 Halfpenny in Gilt
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY - KH 22
%201797%20George%20III%20Halfpenny%20FDC%20gu-0002.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0.63%25,w:98.73%25,h:100%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true)
(Peck 1243 P + ; S.3778)
A scarce pattern example (late Soho)
Note the raised K on the shoulder drapery denoting Kruchler the engraver.
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY - KH 22
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There are around 5 distinct varieties here according to Peck each with different ship, gunport, sail arrangements and olive leaves to seperate the designs.
KH11, KH13, KH15, KH16, KH22, and restrikes.
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY - KH 22
%201797%20George%20III%20Halfpenny%20FDC%20gu-0005.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:12.99%25,w:74.03%25,h:100%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true)
The ship has a distinct raised line and about three tiny incuse gunports with a small flag arrangement.
George III 1799 Halfpenny 5 Incuse Guports Example 1
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY Obverse
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5 Incuse gunports (Peck 1248; S.3778).
A wonderful uncirculated halfpenny.
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY REVERSE
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The reverse of the halpenny shows a ship to the left of Britannia. By looking through a loupe and examining the length of the hull of the ship you will be able to see that there are 5 'incuse' or 5 small indentations which are the ship's gunports.
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY -SHIP CLOSE UP
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It is these 5 'incuse' gunports that define this variety of half penny.
Also note the length of the flag flying on the main mast. Other 5 incuse gunport halfpennys I have handled haver never had a flag this long!
George III 1799 Halfpenny 5 Incuse Guports Example 2
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY - OBVERSE
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5 incuse gunports (Peck 1248 ; S.3778).
A lustrous uncirculated halfpenny.
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY - REVERSE
%20Georgee%20III%201799%20halfpenny%20revers-0001.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0.45%25,w:99.1%25,h:100%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true)
Again the reverse of the halfpenny shows a ship to the left of Britannia. By looking through a loupe and examining the length of the hull of the ship you will be able to see 5 incuse gunports.
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY -SHIP CLOSE UP
%20Georgee%20III%201799%20halfpenny%20reverse%205%20r.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:6.84%25,w:86.32%25,h:100%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true)
Another 5 incuse gunport example - however with a much shorter flag flying on the main mast - compare with the one above.
Although not a recognised variety there are subtile differences within the standard varieties - its like a game of spot the difference!!
George III 1799 Halfpenny 6 raised gunports
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY - 6 RAISED GUNPORTS
%20George%20III%201799%20reverse%206%20gunport%20(2).jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true)
(Peck 1249 ; S.3778)
A harder coin to pin down - to date I have only ever had two examples.
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY - 6 RAISED GUNPORTS
%20George%20III%201799%20reverse%206%20gunport%20(1).jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0.32%25,w:99.37%25,h:100%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true)
Again the reverse of the halfpenny shows a ship to the left of Britannia. By looking through a loupe and examining the length of the hull of the ship you will be able to see 6 raised gunports.
GEORGE III 1799 HALFPENNY - 6 RAISED GUNPORTS
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A little harder to see on this ship but there are 6 raised gunports accross the length of the hull. .
George III 1799 KH 22 Halfpenny in Gilt
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KH 22 OBVERSE
Obverse as type: GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX
Details as follows:
1. K. on lowest fold of shoulder drapery and is added before the dot on the shoulder drapery..
2. Brooch with 6 square jewels.
3. Wreath has 11 leaves, but there are no branching veins.
4. Tie riband shows one loop with two loose ends: not striated.
%201797%20George%20III%20Halfpenny%20FDC%20gu-0003.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,h:300,cg:true)
KH 22 REVERSE
Rev. as type BRITANNIA
Details as follows:
1. Middle prong of trident points to left of first limb of N.
2. ∴ (raised) on rock to right
3. Shield has a hin raised rim
4. Olive branch bares 14 leaves
5. Ship has a poop with a very small flag, 3 or 4 very minute gunports
6. The '1' of the date does not touch the sea.
7. The last letter of SOHO is low in line.
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PECK 1243 p+ 3 or 4 minute GUNPORTS
This ship has a definate raised line along the length of the hull. If you look closely you can see below this raised line that there are 3 or 4 minute gunport ports. The flags are miniscule.
BACK
5 INCUSE GUNPORTS EXAMPLE 1
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KH 26 OBVERSE
An exploded KH 26 Obverse.
as type: GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX
Details as follows:
1. * dot (raised) on lowest fold of shoulder drapery. The shape of the fold and the position of the dot upon it vary with the different working dies.
2. Brooch with 6 square jewels.
3. Wreath has 11 leaves, but there are no branching veins.
4. Tie riband shows one loop with two loose ends: not striated.
%20George%20III%201799%20obverse%20(1).png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,h:300,cg:true)
KH 26 reverse
Rev. as type BRITANNIA
Details as follows:
1. Middle prong of trident points to left of first limb of N.
2. ∴ (raised) on rock to right
3. Shield has a hin raised rim
4. Olive branch bares 14 leaves
5. The design of the ship and the arrangement of the rigging vary considerably.
6. The '1' of the date is usually clear of the sea.
%20George%20III%201799%20obverse%20ship.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,h:300,cg:true)
Peck 1248 BM (7)+ Ship long mast flag
As noted above the design of the ships and the rigging varies considerably here. Compare if you will the two ships from the same KH 26 examples - the flag on the main mast being the prime difference here.
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5 INCUSE GUNPORTS EXAMPLE 2
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KH 26 OBVERSE
Obverse as type: GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX
Details as follows:
1. * dot (raised) on lowest fold of shoulder drapery. The shape of the fold and the position of the dot upon it vary with the different working dies.
2. Brooch with 6 square jewels.
3. Wreath has 11 leaves, but there are no branching veins.
4. Tie riband shows one loop with two loose ends: not striated.
%20Georgee%20III%201799%20halfpenny%20reverse.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,h:300,cg:true)
KH 26 REVERSE
Rev. as type BRITANNIA
Details as follows:
1. Middle prong of trident points to left of first limb of N.
2. ∴ (raised) on rock to right
3. Shield has a hin raised rim
4. Olive branch bares 14 leaves
5. The design of the ship and the arrangement of the rigging vary considerably.
6. The '1' of the date is usually clear of the sea..
%20Georgee%20III%201799%20halfpenny%20reverse%205%20r.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,h:300,cg:true)
PECK 1248 BM (7)+ SHIP SHORT MAST FLAG
As noted above the design of the ships and the rigging varies considerably here. Compare if you will the two ships from the same KH 26 examples - the flag on the main mast being the prime difference here and much shorter.
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KH 26 - 6 Relief Gunports
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KH 26 Obverse
Obverse as type: GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX
Details as follows:
1. * dot (raised) on lowest fold of shoulder drapery. The shape of the fold and the position of the dot upon it vary with the different working dies.
2. Brooch with 6 square jewels.
3. Wreath has 11 leaves, but there are no branching veins.
4. Tie riband shows one loop with two loose ends: not striated.
%20George%20III%201799%20reverse%206%20gunport%20(1).jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,h:300,cg:true)
KH 26 REVERSE
Rev. as type BRITANNIA
Details as follows:
1. Middle prong of trident points to left of first limb of N.
2. ∴ (raised) on rock to right
3. Shield has a hin raised rim
4. Olive branch bares 14 leaves
5. The design of the ship and the arrangement of the rigging vary considerably.
6. The '1' of the date is usually clear of the sea..
%20George%20III%201799%20reverse%206%20gunpor-0001.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,h:300,cg:true)
PECK 1249 BM+ 6 Relief gunports
The gunports are a little bit more difficult to determine from the photograph. Note also the rigging arrangement.
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