King George III Counterfeit Halfpenny

[Eastender]

In my first year of detecting which I recently wrapped up I was fortunate to find six KGII halfpennies, four of them in VG condition. Today in a short day in the field I found my first KG III Halfpenny. This is a counterfeit as so many in circulation were. It doesn't seem worn so much from use, the obverse looks like a poor strike while the reverse has great detail except for the date. Not sure if anyone has cataloged the known variations and tracked down some of the minters.

But I was happy to find it because it gave me confirmation that the colonials were there and farming. I wonder how old the nearby cellar pit might be. Although in general we are happier finding silver and gold, there is something deeply satisfying about pulling these large colonial and early American Cents out of the ground. I savor the moments. The Nox 800 gave it a solid 23 at four inches depth.

 

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[Noah_D]

I want one soooo bad. I've dug largies, old tokens, and a King William IV but no KGII or KGIIIs. Congrats on the nice find, it's especially cool since it is a colonial counterfeit.

 

[Eastender]

I am so excited to find the British coppers and recently found my first three Matrons. But I like many are sentimental about the US First Mint in Philadelphia. I prize the early Draped Bust Cents having found three. Months after getting a White's Spectra V3i at the beginning of this hobby I found this 1798 beauty. My ultimate goal is a Fugio.

 

[Digger RJ]

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[relicmeister]

Gorgeous 1798 such detail. A real score

 

[Silvermonkey]

Sounds like you hve been doing very well in the LC department. Congratulations on a great first year.

 

[Iron Patch]

Machin's Mills Vlack 17-87B

 

[Eastender]

Thanks for the ID Iron Patch. Learning that history and connecting to it motivates me to get out in the field.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Awesome find, congrats!

 

[cheffer]

Damn, nice hp real or no and that cent is gorgeous

 

[Eastender]

This Machin's Mills HP weighs in at 7.93 g vs the 10 g the Regal KG III HP first issue in 1770. The weak strike on the date which carries over to the upper obverse is caused by an unevenly thinner planchet.