Great Britain 1854 Halfpenny... "Witch's Nose" variety... Keep or throw back?

coinpictures · March 30, 2006 6:16AM

I'm just making the variety up, but it seems fitting.

1854 Halfpenny. NGC MS64 BN.

Got this piece in from NEN today. Toying with whether or not to keep it or send it back.

Cons:

There's a very shallow scratch on the reverse (2pm, to the right of the trident; barely visible to naked eye but quite apparent under a loupe). Much more apparent in my pics than NEN's.
The obverse surfaces just seems "off" to me. The bust has a very "glossy" look and is lighter in color (very old cleaning perhaps?)
Extremely common date; can't swing a dead cat without hitting one.
I already have this date in 62BN. Better lustre than this one, but not as vivid toning, nor the die break.

Pros:

Lovely toning, more apparent in NEN's pictures than mine; especially blue amongst letters at periphery.
Either a repunched 5 or an overdate; basically the same as shown in the closeup in this auction.
Very cool die break running off the end of Vicky's nose. Makes her look like having a "witch's pimple" or a beak.
Very well struck example.

I'm into the coin for $122 including shipping. What would you do? Thanks!

NEN's pix:

My pix:

spinaker2000 · March 30, 2006 7:45AM

Very common date, If I had any doubts, I'd send it back. Nice toning though.

Aethelred · March 30, 2006 8:31AM

Based on those pics, I like the coin & would keep it, that said, I am not the one who has to live with it.

AuldFartte · March 30, 2006 11:16AM

<< <i>Based on those pics, I like the coin & would keep it, that said, I am not the one who has to live with it. >>

I couldn't have said it better than that