The Virginia Halfpenny, 1773

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

1773        Newman 4-P                       VA Halfpenny - no stop, seven strings

Obverse:  GEORGIVS   III . REX .
Reverse:  VIRGI   NIA .   17   73 .

Weight:  118.9 g   (7.70 grams)                  Diameter:  25.1 mm

Comments:   This is a variety without a stop after GEORGIVS and seven harp strings. The obverse can be identified as Newman 4 since in the numeral the top of the second I is closer to the first I than the third. The stop after the III is slightly closer to the numerals than REX. Also in REX the E is closer to the R than the X. This obverse was combined with reverses G, O and P.

The reverse is identified as Newman P for the V in VIRGINIA is low and touches a leaf while the G is higher and closer to the R. The second I has been recut, with part of the earlier version seen at the right side of the letter. The stop after the A is centered while the stop after the 3 is nearer the top of the numeral. Reverse P is only found with obverse 4 and is assigned a rarity of 6 by Newman. This example shows a large die break from the top of the 1 stretching almost to the stop after the A. There is also a break from the 1 through the center of the 7 to the crown.

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection.

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

1773        Newman 26-Y                       VA Halfpenny - with stop, eight strings

Obverse:  GEORGIVS .   III . REX .
Reverse:  VIRGI   NIA .   17   73 .

Weight:  121.9 g   (7.90 grams)                  Diameter:  25.0 mm

Comments:  This is a variety with a stop after GEORGIVS and eight harp strings. The obverse can be identified as Newman 26 for the second I in the numeral tilts to the left. One can also distinguish a center punch mark that appears at the back of the jaw bone (near the base on the ear opposite a hooked curl of hair). This obverse was only combined with reverse Y.

The reverse is identified as Newman Y for in VIRGINIA the second I and the N almost touch the shield. Also the third of the three lions in the upper left corner touches the edge of the shield. The stop after the A is nearer the top of the letter while the stop after the 3 is closer to the center. This reverse was only combined with obverse 26. This is a rather common variety assigned a rarity of 2 by Newman. Our example is in red uncirculated condition from the Cohen hoard.

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection, out of the Cohen hoard.

obverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

reverse 500 dpi 250 dpi

1773                               VA Halfpenny - seven strings

Obverse:  GEORGIVS [?]    III . RE[X .]
Reverse:  VIRGI     [NIA .]   17   73 [.]

Weight:  113.2 g   (7.34 grams)                  Diameter:  24.8 mm

Comments:  The obverse of this example has lost much of the upper rim so that most of the S in GEORGIVS is lost; therefore we cannot determine if there was a stop or not. The reverse is one of the 15 varieties that has a harp with seven strings. A well circulated and worn specimen.

Provenance:  Donated to Notre Dame in 1887 as part of a 2,300 item coin collection (see: The Notre Dame Scholastic,   vol. 21 (September 1887) 45.

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