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Colonial era copper experts- is this 1782 Hibernia a regal issue or a contemporary counterfeit?

lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
image


It arrived today. In hand, the color is more medium brown and the microporosity not so pronounced or granular looking.

I think it has a chance of grading at a TPG on that front, but am not so sure what would happen were it determined to be a non-regal issue.

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Comments

  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nobody, huh?

    I asked across the street and Conder101 said he thought it was regal issue.

    But Dave Wnuck said it was a contemporary counterfeit. (Albeit still collectible as such.)

    My big question now is not so much whether it will straight-grade or details-grade. Though not as pronounced as it appears in the photos, that microporosity would probably mean the latter. I knew this when I bought the coin. The one outcome I didn't stop to consider (until after the purchase) was if it is indeed a contemporary counterfeit, will a TPG bodybag it as an ineligible type of submission?

    I'd be OK with a "details" grade for the microporosity. I'm even OK with the thought of it being a contemporary counterfeit. That doesn't diminish its coolness much.

    But if I can't slab it, I guess I'll have to find a different error coin for my Box of 20 set.

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  • numismanumisma Posts: 3,877 ✭✭✭✭
    My immediate impression was that it is a regal issue. What is the weight (in grains or grams)?
  • CoinRaritiesOnlineCoinRaritiesOnline Posts: 3,673 ✭✭✭✭
    Gut feel is contemporary counterfeit.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'll have to weigh it tonight and get back to you on that.

    I dug a 1782 Hibernia halfpenny here once, while detecting at an old 18th century plantation site. It is a contemporary counterfeit. The bust on my dug (non-error) example looks different than the one on this coin.

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  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,309 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I don't think I could tell.
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • Almost positive it's a contemporary counterfeit. The date numerals and letters have that look to them. If you run through the 1782's on this page, you might find similar dies.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the info.

    So, am I correct in assuming a TPG will not encapsulate this?

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  • Correct, or at least they're not supposed to image
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Eh, bummer.

    I mean, I don't regret buying it, but the plastic consideration is something I should've thought a little more about. (Since I'm a Box of 20 collector now.)

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  • Hi lordmarcovan,

    Looks like a double struck contemporary counterfeit Irish halfpenny. They are pretty abundant but avidly collected by a small group of enthusiast. The fact that it is double struck makes it a little cooler, but still pretty obtainable.

    I think the neatest thing about it is that more than most coins in the colonial section of the Redbook, it was likely to have been in the pocket of some early American Colonist.

    Best,

    novacaesarea
  • savoyspecialsavoyspecial Posts: 7,293 ✭✭✭✭
    LordM,

    Of course you know my opinion on this coin per our PM exchange a while back (almost certainly non-regal)

    Regarding how these slab, well they don't with the 'Big 2' and when you start going to the next tier down there is no consistency.....I have had ICG simply note 'Evasion Piece' on the normal blue label but then on one submission they labeled a non-regal something like this:


    Link

    www.brunkauctions.com

  • NewEnglandRaritiesNewEnglandRarities Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Hi lordmarcovan,

    Looks like a double struck contemporary counterfeit Irish halfpenny. They are pretty abundant but avidly collected by a small group of enthusiast. The fact that it is double struck makes it a little cooler, but still pretty obtainable.

    I think the neatest thing about it is that more than most coins in the colonial section of the Redbook, it was likely to have been in the pocket of some early American Colonist.

    Best,

    novacaesarea >>



    Yes I would agree that it is a contemporary counterfeit Irish issue. To echo novacaesarea's comments, they are quite collectable amongst the specialists in that area, and double stuck pieces with two dates showing are normally much more popular than just regular double struck pieces.

    Also, most errors from this era are contemporary counterfeits. Regal errors from this era are quite rare to find, though are actually probably not as much sought after as there is a much stronger following for the counterfeits than the regal issues!
    New England Rarities...Dealer In Colonial Coinage and Americana
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The seller has graciously offered a no-hassle return, so it seems I have any easy out. I stressed that it wasn't a case of my disliking the coin at all. I like it just fine. It's just the un-slabbability that makes it a nonstarter for my slabbed Box of 20 set.

    Same seller has one of those "RF" counterstamped French Colonies pieces that looks OK to me, for not very much more. I asked about trading up to that, maybe. I've never had one of those before, and it would add both a Redbook listed colonial and a counterstamped coin to my very eclectic box.

    If it's OK, I may also solicit some of your opinions on that coin later.

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