Collectors Reference Area 3 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 Restrike Copper Halfpenny -
George III 1799 bronzed Copper restrike Halfpenny
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
(Peck 1258 P+ ; S.3778).
Obv - From the portrait punch of KH 18 (Large Crowned Bust) after it had been considerably altered and the legend added by Taylor.
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
From a rusted die of R77 after retouching. It is important to note that the surface of the rev is concave, but that of the obverse is not. Taylor cannot have therefore used a complete Soho obv. working die. Apparently he aquired only the portrait punch, from which he concocted his own working die with a flat surface, and cut the legend himself
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
Peck tells us that the ship was 'polished off' the die and a more crude one substitued. It has a poop but no gunports. Under the stern there is an irregualr raised lump. The sea is patchy.
George III 1799 Copper Pattern Halfpenny
George III 1799 Restrike Pattern Halfpenny
George III 1799 Restrike Pattern Halfpenny
George III 1799 Restrike Pattern Halfpenny
(Peck 1235 KH 16+ ; S.3778).
The aquisition by the British Museum of 3 specimens of this die pairing from the Roberts and Banks Collections in 1810 and 1818 respectively at once disposes of any uncertainty as to their Soho Origin. Apart from this, however a close inspection reveals their first class workmanship, despite the unfortunate flaws, they are, by far the best of the 7 K. Patterns.
George III 1799 restrike pattern Halfpenny
George III 1799 Restrike Pattern Halfpenny
George III 1799 Restrike Pattern Halfpenny
The fine detail, e.g. the delicate leaf veins and the striated ribands, should be specially noted. The latter are significant, for striated ribands are also a special feature of the earliest strikings of the 1806 proof penny and halfpenny. This halfpenny has a wonderful colour and patina and has to be one of my favourite examples to date.
George III 1799 restrike pattern Halfpenny
George III 1799 Restrike Pattern Halfpenny
George III 1799 restrike pattern Halfpenny
The ship has very small flags on the mast and a number of raised gunports along a raised line running along the length of the hull - 3 bow sprits and a large ensign.
George III 1799 Bronzed Copper Restrike Halfpenny -
George III 1799 bronzed Copper restrike Halfpenny
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
(Peck 1260 P+ ; S.3778).
Obv - From the die of KH 23 after it had become slightly rusted and worn. Wear is most marked at the tie riband, of which the top half of the loop and the tip of the upper loose end are missing.
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
From the die of R 78 but the reverse of rusted die R 77. Scattered rust spots are noticeable especailly to the centre of the shield and below the ship.
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
GEORGE III 1799 BRONZED COPPER RESTRIKE HALFPENNY
Peck tells us that the ship was 'polished off' the die and a more crude one substitued. It has a poop but no gunports. I think it looks rather futuristic in comparision to the other ships.
George III 1799 Restrike Pattern Halfpenny
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R78 from KH18 DIES OBVERSE Peck 1258
R 78 KH 18 Obverse.
as type: GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX
Details as follows:
1. Large central cross patee on crown has been retouched.
2. Worn upper arm on the front of the crown has also been recut. Half of the pearl above it is missing.
3. The two lis have been altered: they now have a more angular appearance.
4. The 'K' on the shoulder is larger and there is only one stop after it.
5. Much of the hair has been recut especially the side whiskers.
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reverse from rusted die of r77
Rev. as type BRITANNIA
Details as follows:
1. Weak patches in the drapery and waves have been recut.
2. A thin raised rim has been added around the shield and the trident butt now shows 4 short horizontal lines.
3. A flaw runs down the curved edge of the sea, accross Britannia's foot and thence onto the rock.
4. The date figures have been recut, and there is a thin line flaw on either side of the second 9.
5. Scattered rust spots occur in the field, especially above the ship and left of the olive branch.
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PECK 1235 BM raised GUNPORTS - tall ship -
Peck tells us that the ship was 'polished off' the die and a more crude one substitued. It has a poop but no gunports. Under the stern there is an irregualr raised lump. The sea is patchy.
George III 1799 Copper Pattern Halfpenny
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KH 16 OBVERSE Peck 1235
KH 16 Obverse.
as type: GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX
Details as follows:
1. K 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 - 2 central ones slightly out of line.
3. Wreath has 11 leaves, but there are no branching veins.
4. Tie riband shows one loop with two loose ends: not striated.
5. There is a prominent raised 'comma' shaped flaw on the drapery or the neck-line.
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reverse as type
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. There is a small irregular raised lump in the field, close under Britannia's right arm pit. Interestingly examples from the Herman Selig collection shows that this lump was sometimes filed out. It must have had to have been a very small file and fine workman to omit this lump!.
7. The '1' of the date is usually clear of the sea.
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PECK 1235 BM raised GUNPORTS - tall ship -
This beautifully worked ship has yet another rigging arrangement - small flags to the top of the masts, 3 bow sprits. The gunpots are loosely arranged and on first inspection without the use of a loupe you could be forgiven for thinking that this was a raised line variety.
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George III 1799 Bronzed Copper Restrike Halfpenny
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R 79 - KH 23 OBVERSE
KH 23 Obverse.
as type: GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX
Details as follows:
1. K 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 - top half of loop and the tip of the upper loose ends are missing.
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From die of r 78 rev. r 77.
Rev. as type BRITANNIA
Details as follows:
1. Weak patches in the drapery and the waves have been recut.
2. A thin raised rim has been added around the shield, except for a small part to the left and right of SOHO.
3. Space between the shield and the trident butt shows 4 short horizontal lines.
4. A prominent flaw runs down the curved edge of the sea, accross Britannia's foot and thence on to the rock.
5. The date figures have been recut and there is a thin line-flaw on either side of the second 9.
6. Scattered rust spots occur in the field, especially above the ship, and to the left of the olive branch - itself an interesting design.
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PECK 1248 BM (7) + 5 incuse GUNPORTS - tall ship -
The original ship has been polished off the die, and a new, rather crude one, substituted. It has a poop but no gunports. Under the stern there is an irregualr raised lump. The sea is patchy. If you look to the right hand side of the ship, you can see the flaw that Peck tells us about in point 4. above.
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George III 1799 Restrike Pattern Halfpenny -
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George III 1799 Copper Pattern Halfpenny -
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George III 1799 Bronzed Copper Restrike Halfpenny
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