jelida

It’s not the woman holding the hat in your original image, it’s the man you show with her in your other photo wearing the light blue top and dark blue shorts. It’s all there in the first (and most accurate representation) image. You won’t improve on the truthfulness of your photo my manipulating colours, brightness etc. It already shows the man’s light blue shoulder, dark blue trousers and a white hat perfectly clearly. And not surprising he’s holding the hat if that windy. Trust in reality. All the rest is bo**ox. I really don’t know why I bothered replying to this. I agree with you, Rob, must get a life. Jerry

Looks to me like someone standing to the left of the window holding a panama hat beside their bum. Jerry

No, it’s not an R over B; unless it’s the same coin, I’ve seen this flaw mis-described before, even major auction houses are chancers at times. Jerry

Here is mine, and nice tone in the hand. Auctioneer’s photos. Jerry

I spotted two nicely struck and very acceptable Commonwealth halfpennies at the MCF last Sunday, asking price about £225 in both cases. I bought my own one from a European auction early this year, fully struck up and less than £180. There are nice examples out there but one on a Timeline Auction went for over £500 IIRC. Jerry

Yup, that’s another one. Jerry

Looks like a standard Freeman 22 to me, though as you say the indicators are not all clear. The ‘N’ is just bruised and worn. Jerry

Hi Brodie, I’m afraid that this is a normal 1863 penny and not one of the rare varieties. In this condition it is worth scrap metal value only. It’s not so much the position of the ‘3’ as the actual design of the ‘3’ digit that governs the rarity. Keep searching and good luck! Jerry

My thought’s exactly! There seems to be an influx of fake Lizzie halfpennies at the moment, I wonder about this one too with the key over woolpack facing the wrong way and a very uneven border. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287335422050 Jerry

Good pictures, nice coin. It will tone well on a sunny windowsill , turned from time to time . Jerry

Try to take some clear photos of both sides of the coin, it’s difficult to comment on the images you give. There are some very good Chinese replicas available now and looking at the finish we need to rule those out first. Doubling in the strike would be a possibility, if we are dealing with the genuine article. Jerry

I suspect it may be related to the Irish obsidional currency , this article may give you a lead. https://oldcurrencyexchange.com/2015/09/03/obrien-rare-coin-review-confederate-catholic-rebel-money-coinage-of-1642-44/ Jerry

It really isn’t reasonable to expect us to influence decisions as to how you spend your money where the facts are not clear cut, and the perspective of other parties photographs is notoriously unreliable when making size or thickness estimations. Some you will get right and some wrong simply because the image does not reflect reality, but it has to be up to you whether to take the plunge. It’s great to hear of a successful rare find or new discovery when it is definite and in the hand and when correct weights and measurements and clear photos can be taken, but we don’t need to be party to your thought processes before the actual facts can be ascertained. And please don’t be so quick to take offence when it is largely not intended, which is in itself offensive and unhelpful. The sources you quote are excellent, and with the addition of Gouby are exactly my primary sources. You are clearly a quick learner, but experience can only be gained over time , often by trial and error which is where you are at now. Jerry

You need to get it in the hand and take clearer photos. It isn’t a recognised variety of penny, halfpenny or farthing, and you haven’t made clear the denomination or date. The proportions aren’t quite right for a ‘T’ and the right arm is missing, but it would be a remarkable find and needs to be clarified. It could also be a die flaw or dig to the left of the upper serif of the ‘E’ - as I said, better photos and a close look at the actual coin are required. If cheap enough, it’s the sort of thing I would buy just to be sure one way or another. Are you going to the Midland Coin Fair on Sunday? Jerry

Better than EF for me, contact marks aren’t so much of an issue as scratches and other damage from circulation. You can always be caught out by photos, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was graded MS 62ish. Price at auction is so unpredictable, you could offer it at a fixed price of somewhere midway between EF and BU in the catalogue but be prepared to wait, or nearer EF price for a quicker sale. Jerry