George III 1770 Halfpenny, contemporary counterfeit of excellent style P.pl.50x

George III (1760-1820), copper Halfpenny, 1770, contemporary counterfeit, different style to regal issue, laureate and cuirassed bust right, only two leaves visible above head, prominent leaf veins, facial profile differs with larger more pointed nose, folds on cuirass more prominent, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS. III. REX. lettering both sides with "fish-tail" bottoms suggesting striking by medal method with hammer hitting pair of dies in situ, rev. Britannia seated left on globe with spear and olive branch, more crudely engraved leading leg more bulbous, olive branch with curvature, date in exergue, weight 9.60g (Peck page 233, plate 50, item x; cf.S.3774). Toned well struck though a little short of flan, a mere hint of lustre, good extremely fine, a counterfeit of excellent style and in a wonderful state of preservation .

The Latin legend translates as on obverse "George III, King" and on reverse " of the Britons," This intriguing piece seems too good to be the production of a contemporary forger and the quality of the engraving and level of detail is superior to currency. Being the first year of the Halfpenny of George III it maybe appropriate to think this as an unpublished trial piece, and it weighs similar to a currency piece. This coin was once in the famed "basement" stock of A H Baldwin as an oddity and was sold to a private collector in 2006 as "different" to a regular currency piece.