Lot 2573
Great Britain. Tin Halfpenny, 1690. S.3448; Peck 570. William and Mary, 1689-1694. Obverse; Conjoined busts of joint monarchs. Copper plug in center. Reverse; Britannia left with shield and spear. Exergue plain. Dated edge reads NVMMORVM * FAMVLVS * 1690. Described by Peck as 'Extremely Rare' in any grade, this piece is practically as struck with much original tin color, and compares well with the finest specimens from the celebrated Nicholson halfpenny collection. Irreplaceable in today's market. PCGS graded AU-58. Estimate Value $1,800 - 2,000
* This in an exceptional example, from a relatively short lived tin coinage. Peck writes that .'although James II fled to France on 23 December 1688, William and Mary were not formally proclaimed joint sovereigns until 13 February 1689. Two days later the Mint was authorized to continue coining from the dies of James II. Whether this order also applied to the tin coinage is uncertain, but even if it did, it appears that none was struck, for no James II tin pieces dated 1688 are known., and it was not until 12 October 1689 that a fresh commission was granted to Charles Godolphin, James Hoare and Andrew Corbet for the coining of tin halfpennies and farthings at 21 pence to the pound (weight)'
The British public intensely disliked tin coinage. The soft nature of the metal meant that the coins were often poorly produced and deteriorated quickly. The issue of all tin coins was ended in 1692 and few have survived in the pristine condition of this piece.
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| Realized $2,703 |
