Lot 2208
Great Britain. Proof copper Halfpenny, 1672. Charles II. Style of S-3393. No error in the legends. Peck-509. Cope & Rayner rate this R4 in Proof. Peck calls it "very rare." 30.5 mm diameter. Edge not viewable in the slab, but as Peck says "Proofs have a plain linear circle instead of the toothed border." Otherwise the two kinds of issues are hard to distinguish. The technical grade is not so much at issue when it comes to finding any of these coppers, but rather the problem is locating coins without flaws, without damage, without corrosion. Those are the things that plague the coppers of the late 17th century and into the first few decades of the next century. Especially hard to find nice are any coppers of Charles II, James II, William & Mary, and William III, because in reality these were the formative years, a period of crude alloying and clumsy minting presses. Comparable in U.S. numismatics are the first nickel coins, those of 1865 to about 1870, which show that the mint had trouble adjusting press pressures correctly and could not get the alloy right very often. Thus what we have here, in this lot, is a very early British copper of exceptionally pleasing eye-appeal, made of lovely "light chocolate" copper without alloying flaws or much later damage. There is an ancient scuff just behind the king's nose, and another light one on Britannia's front leg. But these are nit-picking marks, for this coin is among the nicest copper halfpennies of this reign to be found. NGC graded Proof 62 Brown.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,750.
The Cheshire Collection.
|
| |
| Unsold |
