Has anybody ever found a REGAL King George III Halfpenny (USA only)

[Don in SJ]

Now that may sound funny to those of you who have found KGIII coppers, but trust me, the odds are what you have is a counterfeit, and most likely not a Machins Mills.
I have surveyed approximately 85 KGIII coppers so far and ALL are counterfeits/Imitations, but not Regal ones.

Most previously written articles on this subject have KGIII as around 75-95% counterfeit, but that was not necessarily from ground founds, I am sure most of that was from collections that were in cigar boxes and desk drawers for a long time and now in collectors hands, whereas our coins are without a doubt ones that were used here in USA and lost in USA and the first person to handle them after being dropped a long time ago was US.

If you think you have a Regal one, that was ground found in the USA, please post a photo of it, or even post your counterfeits if you would like, I am taking count still and the more the better for getting the statistics, which right now is 100% Counterfeit, 0% Regal for KGIII's.

I have started the same database on KGII coppers and there the Regals are there in fairly decent numbers, no percentage to report on them as of yet, and will do that project later this year.

So, right now, I am looking for KGIII coppers, show me the money!

Don

 

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[Don in SJ]

I was asked by someone to provide photos of what a Regal King George III copper looks like, well, here is a link to an excellent website that shows great photos of Regals from the years 1770-1775, also photos of some counterfeits.

http://www.geocities.com/copperclem/Counterfeits_page1.html

Don

 

[kevino1960]

Interesting! I have never found one but thanks for the post and info.

Kevin

 

[l.cutler]

I found a regal George III halfpenny, but it is of the newer type. One of the early 1800's variety.

 

[Rubicon]

I've got a KGll, let me know when you want a picture.

 

[leddel]

heres two that you can guess as to which , good post Don and the website is very informative thanks

 

[Don in SJ]

heres two that you can guess as to which , good post Don and the website is very informative thanks

Thankyou for your response and the photos, appreciate that....Don

The KG copper at the top gave me a bit of trouble, the easiest way to tell is where the arm, etc in relation to the letters TAN in BRITAN, but it is worn off on this coin, which is an indicator in itself of a counterfeit at times. So, looking at the Obverse, the spacing is rather good compared to a Regal, but sure appears that the letters GIVS are crude compared to a Regal and not proper height, so from what I can see in the photograph it is good imitation counterfeit.

The Irish Halfpenny, without even looking at it closely at all says counterfeit. The colonies were flooded with counterfeit Irish Halfpennies, most very thin, underweight and crude letters, bust of George and so on.

Weight is the biggest factor, when I got my scale that weighs in GRAINS, I was surprised at how underweight all of my KGIII coppers were. That is the easiest way to tell a counterfeit.

I have a beautiful Irish counterfeit, nice design, but the coin is very thin, and look at the letter O, it was made using the punch for the letter G .

 

[leddel]

ya the top i'm suspecting a machin mills its got the 1776 date and the irish half pence doesn't even read like a copper coin , almost like a nickle and very crude but it was the first colonial coin i ever found and got me hooked to detecting old foundations .i've been thinking of getting a scale what kind is yours if you don't mind me asking ? hey thanks Don

 

[Riggleman]

Recently found my first KG III half penny and extremely excited to share my find and immediately was told I had a counterfeit, having never found a KG before I knew nothing of the heavy counterfeiting. Here is my coin let me know your opinions real or fake?

 

[PEles]

Here's 2

 

[realeswatcher]

The 1772 halfpenny (English) PEles shows in the last post is in indeed REGAL. Look carefully and you'll note that the king's name is misspelled GEORIVS - missing the 2nd 'G'. On the surface, that would make it seem like an obvious candidate as a "semi-evasive" counterfeit, but that is in fact just a good old-fashioned error. Known type...