Victoria 1887 lead pattern Halfpenny, for Adolph Weyl, three date trial, ex Murdoch and Nicholson

Victoria (1837-1901), Pattern Halfpenny, 1887, trial struck in lead, for Adolph Weyl, dated in three places, crowned and veiled Jubilee style bust left, top and bottom meet beaded border surrounding outer rim, date 1887 in small figures in field before neck, date in tiny figures either side of crown, date in tiny figures in field under EMP of legend, English language legend, VICTORIA QUEEN AND EMPRESS, rev. struck en medaille, quatrefoil at centre of crowned cruciform shields, emblems alternate in angles, all within tressure of arcs, .HALFPENNY. below, legend surrounding remainder, UNITED. KINGDOM. AND. GREATER. BRITAIN, edge plain, weight 7.96g (Freeman -; Peck -; Pearce p.199 this coin illustrated fig. 9). Lightly toned, a few light nicks, hairline scratches on bust, a little softly struck being lead, otherwise extremely fine and a unique trial featuring three dates.

It is interesting to note the variety of emblems used in the reverse design of these pieces in that the bottom shield encompasses India, Canada and Australia as part of the Empire at that time with a shield containing elephant at top, a seal at centre and a kangaroo at bottom.

See article by R. J. Pearce (of RP Coins) - A Study of the "Weyl" Pattern Pennies, Halfpennies and Farthings dated 1860 and 1887 - British Numismatic Journal, volume 81, 2011, p.181-202. This coin is illustrated on page 184 figure 9.

Though Pearce does not number his cataloguing of the 94 variations in the article, this coin is listed on page 199 penultimate coin entry.

Provenance:

Ex John G. Murdoch, third portion, Sotheby, 15th March 1904, lot 690 part, sold to Evan Roberts.

Ex Glendining, 15th December 1993, lot 285.

Ex Dr Basil Nicholson Collection, sold by Colin Cooke Ltd from March 2004, item 387.