The Dr. Basil Nicholson Collection
Part 1 (1601-1694)

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6


Item Picture Date DESCRIPTION
001 image 1601 Elizabeth 1st. Pattern Halfpenny Pledge in Silver. BMC 6. Royal Monogram crowned. Portcullis and chains. Dated 1601. One of the earliest patterns for the introduction of a copper coinage. Within the Royal Monogram can be found all the letters of ELIZABETH R(egina). Virtually Mint State and possibly the finest of the four only specimens available to commerce, the remaining two examples being in institutions. Extremely rare. Montagu and North both list this coin as a farthing but Peck's convincing discussion on pages 9 - 12 of BMC re-assigns the piece as a Halfpenny. This piece is not the very much inferior Rogers example (which is in this writer's personal collection at present), reducing the possible pedigree to Foster, or Peck or Parsons. From the photographic evidence of each of these three pieces, this is almost certainly the Major A. W. Foster specimen, (Glendinings 19th October 1953, Lot 2, £18/10/- to Forrer and subsequently sold at Spink Coin Auction No. 1, 10th October 1978, Lot 194, £600). The weight, 1.11grams (17.1 grains) corresponds exactly to the known weight of the Foster piece. Unfortunately, the Spink reference below offers no corroborative attribution in the printed sale catalogue.

Ex Spink Coin Auction 95, 25-11-1992, Lot 78 (£846).
001A image 1601 Irish Copper Halfpenny. mm Star. DF257, S6511. Weight 0.92g. Fine-VF, some flan defects. Rare. This Irish halfpenny is included here because it represents the first attempts in the British Isles to introduce halfpennies in copper.

Ex I. H. Daniels 26-8-1904, price 4/6d.

Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, Oct 1979 No 47 (£40)
001B image 1602 Irish Copper Halfpenny. mm Martlet. DF258, S6511A. Weight 0.53g. Fair, very rare. This Irish halfpenny is included here because it represents the first attempts in the British Isles to introduce halfpennies in copper.

Ex H. Pegg (Spink Coin Auction 11, 8-10-1980, part lot 779)
002 image Undated Charles II. Pattern Halfpenny in Copper. BMC 404. The only official Pattern Halfpenny of Charles II. Undated but probably issued just prior to 1672. Weight 9.94g. Practically as struck, extremely rare in this highest grade, (though it is much commoner in VF and below).

Ex Glendinings 20-6-1990, Lot 925.
003 image 1664-65 Charles II. BMC 496 in Copper. Weight 10.80g. Diameter, 29.6mm. Issued circa 1664-65. Designs are the same as the gold touch pieces of Charles II. It is almost certain they were minted as tickets for the Touching Ceremony, handed by the Surgeon-General to certified sufferers of the "Kings Evil". The different metals and sometimes notches indicate the year in which they were to be used. (See BMC, pp. 136-7.) They are not coins but by tradition (and inclusion in BMC), they are handled as part of the Halfpenny series. Fine, rare. (Same grade as item 004 in this collection, which was graded VF by Spink.)

Ex Spink Coin Auction 11, 8-10-1980, Lot 352 (H. Pegg collection).
004 image 1664-65 Charles II. BMC -- (but compare with BMC 496). Ticket for the Touching Ceremony, handed by the Surgeon-General to certified sufferers of the "Kings Evil." With two official notches on rim, probably for re-use in James II reign. (See Miss Helen Farquhar BNJ Vol 13, pp 122-5; BNJ Vol 12 pp 123-6; BNJ Vol 13 pp128-9; BNJ Vol 14 p 116.) Weight 10.78g. Circa 1664-65 and later re-use (see BMC pp 136-137). Diameter 29.7mm. Fine, very rare (notwithstanding that in the reference quoted below, it was graded VF).

Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, May 1998, No 2756 (VF £85) This is almost certainly the same piece sold at Glendinings 11-11-1981 Lot 252 (part), and 10-2-1982 Lot 173 (part).
005 image 1664-65 Charles II. BMC498. Ticket for the Touching Ceremony, in Copper with brass centre. Handed by the Surgeon-General to certified sufferers of the "Kings Evil." Weight 11.15g. Diameter 29mm. Circa 1664-65. Fine, very rare. (Same grade as item 004 in this collection, which was graded VF by Spink.)

Ex H. Pegg collection, Spink Coin Auction 11, 8-10-1980, Lot 352 (£55).
006 image 1664-65 Charles II. BMC499. Ticket for the Touching Ceremony, in Brass with Copper centre. Handed by the Surgeon-General to certified sufferers of the "Kings Evil." Weight 9.81g. Circa 1664-65. Fine, rare. (Same grade as item 004 in this collection, which was graded VF by Spink.) Acquired from Graeme Monk at Coinex 1998 at Chester on 27th March 1988.
007 image 1664-65 Charles II. BMC 499 (similar).Ticket for the Touching Ceremony, in Brass (dark toned ?) with Copper centre. Handed by the Surgeon-General to certified sufferers of the "Kings Evil." Diameter 28.5mm. Weight 9.91g. Circa 1664-65. Dr Nicholson notes: "The centre resembles the copper used in the general coinage of the time but the rim is a darker alloy, quite different from the brass centre of the BMC 499 and 498 examples in this collection, both of which are a much paler and yellowish colour. It may be that the difference lies in some aberrant toning but why should one part of the piece tone normally and the rim not? This needs a modern, differential analysis." Very Fine and by far the strongest of the several touch pieces in the Nicholson collection.

Ex H. Pegg, Spink Coin Auction 11, 8-10-1980, Lot 354.

Ex Spink Coin Auction 21, 1-4-1982, Lot 647 (photo) (£140).
008 image Undated Charles II. "Elephant" Halfpenny. BMC 504. Probably struck about 1672 for the Royal African Company. Obverse with the arms of London and the legend God Preserve London (possibly a reference to the Plague ?). Weight 8.63g. Thin flan of 1.5mm (much rarer than the thick planchet). Elephant tokens are included in the USA series for Carolina, where they enjoyed a limited circulation. For further details, please see the Guide Book of USA Coins by R. S. Yeoman. These pieces are all at least very rare. Weakly struck above the shield, overall Very Fine and extremely rare (the only other specimen on a thin flan known to this cataloguer is in the British Museum Collection, though others may exist). Acquired from Rarity Coins 18th June 1980.
009 image Undated Charles II. "Elephant" Halfpenny. BMC 503. Probably struck about 1672 for the Royal African Company. Obverse with the arms of London and the legend God Preserve London (possibly a reference to the Plague ?). Weight 8.63g. Thick flan (about 2.5mm). Fair only, very rare.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996)
010 image 1672 Charles II. BMC 506. The first currency Halfpenny in Copper. Weight 10.01g. Extremely Fine, very slight traces of lustre in reverse legend. About as struck. Extremely rare in this condition. Though catalogues have little differential in their values for the various dates, in practice, 1672 is very difficult to find in any grade. This piece is quite exceptional and certainly the finest to have appeared on the market for a very long time.

Ex Hopetoun House (Spink Coin Auction 68, 22-3-1989, Lot 570). Purchased from Colin Cooke, 21-12-1990.
011 image 1672 CRAOLVS error. BMC 507. Very few examples known and very much rarer than the 1673 CRAOLVS. About Fine, some rim and planchet flaws. Extremely rare, unpriced in Spink 2004 standard catalogue. Purchased from Nigel Clark, 8th May 1981.
012 image 1672 Copper Proof. BMC 509. Weight 10.10g. Diameter 30mm. The first English proof in the copper series. (Strictly, it should be designated a Pattern rather than a proof, as it has a linear circle and not a toothed rim.) Reverse upright. Very Fine or better, extremely rare.

Ex Glendinings 30-4-1986, "Lancashire Collector", Lot 273.
013 image 1673 Currency. BMC 510. Weight 10.84g. Near EF, traces of lustre. A little weakly struck, as usual. Practically as struck with very little wear.

Ex Spink Numismatic Circular March 1983, item 1132 (photographed), £200. (Note: The "Slaney" example, described as GEF, in Spink Auction in 2003, realised £1293.)
014 image 1673 CRAOLVS error. BMC 511. Weight 11.62g. (Same obverse die as BMC 506.) Very Fine. Very rare, unpriced in Spink 2004 standard catalogue. Purchased from 6th August 1980 from Rarity Coins.
015 image 1673 Obverse No Stops, with A very close to CAROLVS. BMC 512. Weight 10.49g. Fine or better. Extremely rare. (Rated ER by Peck and unpriced in Spink 2004 standard catalogue.)

Ex Peter W. Lawrence 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
016 image 1673 No Stop on Reverse. (Apparent stop after BRITANNIA is an incuse flan-flaw.) BMC 513. Weight 10.48g. Fair. Extremely Rare (Peck recorded only 2 specimens).

Ex Peter W. Lawrence 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
017 image 1673 Silver Proof. Reverse No Stop. BMC 514. Reverse upright. Weight 14.16g. Most pleasing Fine with some rim bruising. Extremely rare. (Possibly from a mount, though no mention of this included in Spink Coin Auction 95.)

Ex Dr. E. C. Carter, purchased by Baldwin 1950.

Ex Rev. E. Rogers, purchased by Baldwin 1950.

Ex Spink Coin Auction 95, 25-11-1992, Lot 227.
018 image 1673 Proof in Copper. BMC 515. Reverse No Stop. Reverse upright. Diameter 31mm. Weight 10.60g. Plain linear circle. About Fine, at best. Extremely rare. Purchased from Colin Cooke, 4-5-1996.
019 image 1673 BMC -- . B of BRITANNIA over C (Engraver started obverse legend on the reverse ?) The error is very clear on the coin, even if our photo does not show it up clearly. Hitherto unpublished. Weight 10.06g. A bold Fine or a little better. Extremely rare.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
020 image 1675/3 BMC -- . A clear overdate, showing a 5 over a 3. The alteration can be clearly seen if the photo is enlarged. Obverse tie ribbons end between "L" and "O" of CAROLO. Weight 11.49g. This variety is now listed in Spink 2004 standard catalogue. A bold Good Fine. Rare. Purchased from Aston Coins, 5th August 1980. Note: A Farthing of the same type is now known.
021 image 1675/3 BMC -- . A clear overdate, showing a 5 over a 3. The alteration can be clearly seen if the photo is enlarged. Different obverse die and different reverse die, compared to Coin No 20 in this same collection. Weight 10.91g. This variety is now listed in Spink 2004 standard catalogue. A slight dent on the shield, of little consequence, pleasing Fine. Rare.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996). Note: A Farthing of the same type is now known.
022 image 1675/3 BMC -- . A clear overdate, showing a 5 over a 3. The alteration can be clearly seen if the photo is enlarged.This is a 3rd obverse and reverse die (note position of tie ribbons), compared to Coin Nos 20 and 21 in this same collection. Weight 10.86g. This variety is now listed in Spink 2004 standard catalogue. Somewhat off-struck and double-struck, weakish in the centre of the reverse, a bold Fine. Rare.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996). Note: A Farthing of the same type is now known.
023 image 1675/3 BMC -- . A clear overdate, showing a 5 over a 3. The alteration can be clearly seen if the photo is enlarged. A 4th obverse and reverse die pairing, compared to Coin Nos 20 ,21 and 22 in this same collection. Tie riband to the centre of the O of CAROLO. Weight 10.44g. This variety is now listed in Spink 2004 standard catalogue. Weakish in the centre of the reverse. A bold Good Fine. Rare. Purchased from Barney, 17-12-1979. Note: A Farthing of the same type is now known.
024 image 1675/3 BMC -- . A clear overdate, showing a 5 over a 3. The alteration can be clearly seen if the photo is enlarged. A 5th example from this important collection. This variety is now listed in Spink 2004 standard catalogue. Small, edge metal flaw at 7pm, about Fine. Rare.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996). Note: A Farthing of the same type is now known.
025 image 1675 BMC 516. Weight 11.49g. Extremely Fine, traces of lustre on both sides. Usual soft strike, practically as struck. Extremely rare in this grade. Purchased from Aston Coins, 22-3-1979.
026 image 1675 No Stops on Obverse. BMC 517. Struck from the same obverse die as BMC 512. Weight 10.55g. Fair. Extremely rare. Purchased from Nigel Clark, 8th May 1981.
027 image 1685 James II. Tin Halfpenny. Obverse No Stop after SECVNDVS. BMC 539. NVMMORVM image FAMVLVS image 1685 image (5 pointed mullets). Weight 11.07g. With the exception of a few small spots of corrosion, this piece is practically as struck with almost full tin lustre, even on the edge, which is complete and intact. As such, it is difficult to imagine an example in a finer state of preservation. A quite spectacular coin.

Ex Entwisle collection, Spink Coin Auction 75, 29-3-1990, Lot 357, £1477 including premium.

Ex Dr. Terry Aitken (Canada), collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
028 image 1686 James II. Tin Halfpenny. Obverse No Stop after SECVNDVS. BMC 543. NVMMORVM image FAMVLVS image 1686 image ( 5- lobed ornaments). Weight 10.81g. Essentially Near Extremely Fine but a curious flan flaw in the metal at the King's head and in the corresponding position on the reverse at Britannia's feet, where, in both instances, no design is struck up. Extremely rare in this grade. Purchased 11-1-1994, from Dolphin List 5, item 6541.
029 image 1687 James II. Tin Halfpenny. Obverse No Stop after SECVNDVS. BMC -- . Similar to BMC 544 but with an extra • before FAMVLVS. The edge legend is NVMMORVM image • FAMVLVS image 1687 image A few, minor corrosion spots, Extremely Fine with lots of original tin lustre. A quite exceptional coin, rarely ever offered for sale in this grade. Extremely rare, apparently hitherto unpublished.

Ex Dr. Terry Aitken (Canada), who bought from Spink in 1990 for £535. Collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
030 image 1687 James II. Tin Halfpenny. Obverse No Stop after SECVNDVS. BMC -- . D of SECVNDVS over Reversed D, which is extremely clear on the coin. Unrecorded in BMC and hitherto unpublished but this is the third example this cataloguer has seen in the last thirty years or so, therefore we might confidently predict that a few others may turn up in the future. Weight 11.14g. Edge reading is NVMMORVM image • FAMVLVS image 1687 [ ] (5 lobed ornaments). Some corrosion to the top of the obverse and on the edge, which is unreadable just after the date, Near Extremely Fine and still retaining good tin lustre on both sides. By far the finest of the three specimens so far encountered. Quite an exceptional coin and extremely rare. Purchased from Colin Cooke,16th May, 1990.
031 image 1689 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. BMC 561. Obverse legend divided by heads between GVLIELMVS and ET. Diameter 30.5mm. Weight 10.93g. This type is rarely ever seen in any condition. Only light corrosion, strictly only Fine though probably Good Very Fine for the issue. Excessively Rare, possibly the finest specimen outside the British Museum. Purchased from Spink Numismatic Circular, Dec 1986, No 8485 (£300).
032 image 1689 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. Legend divided between ET and MARIA. Weight 10.96g. Excessively Rare, this piece recorded by Peck as sole location. BMC 565 ( this piece listed). The obverse has star stops. This coin is used for the illustration in Spink 2004 standard catalogue (S 3447). Some corrosion, Very Fine or better, probably about as struck, retaining good mint lustre. An exceptional coin of the highest rarity, probably unique.

Ex Lord Mostyn, Sotheby 25-7-1918.

Ex Glendining, 23-11-1938, Lot 591 (£6), bought by Dr. E. A. Johnstone.

Ex Dr. E.A. Johnstone, collection purchased by Baldwin (1973). This piece was exhibited by C. W. Peck, on behalf of Dr Johnstone, at the 25th March 1953 meeting of the British Numismatic Society and reorded in the Journal's proceedings, page 230.

Ex Roger Shuttlewood, Spink Numismatic Circular Feb 2001, item MC0205, £750.
033 image 1690 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. BMC -- . NVMMORVM • • FAMVLVS • 1690 • •. Similar to BMC 567 ( a variant, or error of description by Peck.) There are two stops after the date and they are at different levels, neither feature being recorded hitherto. It may well be that BMC 567 has been incorrectly listed and that this piece now described is the correct edge for BMC 567. Only time will tell. Weight 10.83g. No Stops after GVLIELMVS or MARIA. Extremely Fine, retaining almost full, original mint lustre. A quite exceptional coin and probably the clearest in existence. Extremely rare.

Ex Bridgewater House, 15/16 June 1972. Lot 473 (part).

Ex Dr. T. Aitken, who purchased it from Spink in 1991 for £1150, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
034 image 1690 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. Much of the edge is corroded but the last mullet is visible and therefore most likely to be BMC 568. NVMMORVM [ ] FAMVLVS [ ] 1690 image. Five pointed mullet after date. Weight 10.76g. Reverse very blistered, visible parts Good Very Fine with lustre. Obverse is Good Very Fine or better, retaining considerable mint lustre. Extremely rare. Purchased from Colin Cooke, 21-4-1982.
035 image 1690 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. BMC 570A. Stop after GVLIELMVS. Edge reading is NVMMORVM [ ] image FAMVLVS • 1690 image [ ], the parts in square brackets being unclear. These details are enough to ascertain BMC 570A. Weight 10.79g. A few, small blisters, overall Good Fine/Fine. Extremely rare, there being only one location recorded by Peck.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
036 image 1690 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. BMC -- . Edge reading is NVMMORVM image image FAMVLVS • 1690 image image There is a Stop after GVLIELMVS. Weight 10.76g. Several surface gouges, a bold Good Fine with a strong edge. Extremely rare.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
037 image 1690 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. BMC -- . Stop after GVLIELMVS. Edge reading is NVMMORVM image image FAMVLVS • 1690 image image (What appears to be an extra stop between the crosses after NVMMORVM, is probably only a corrosion spot). This pair of Maltese crosses is not recorded in BMC. Weight 11.14g. Corrosion patch on the reverse to the left of Britannia's trunk and also covering the last IA of the legend. The obverse has only very minor corrosion in the word MARIA. Extremely Fine, retaining considerable mint brilliance. Edge is strong and lustrous. An extremely rare and important new edge reading. Purchased from Colin Cooke, 7-10-1991.
038 image 1691 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. BMC -- . Edge reading is NVMMORVM [ ] image FAMVLVS • 1691image image (the part in square brackets being unclear). The two Maltese crosses after the date is not recorded in any listing for 1691 halfpennies in BMC. Weight 10.86g. A very stable, firm coin with no flaking or fragility of surface. Fair - Fine but the edge reading allows the attribution given above. Extremely rare.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
039 image 1692/91 1692 on the edge but 1691 in the exergue. William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. Weight 11.01g. BMC -- . As BMC 575 but with edge of BMC 576. Stop after GVLIELMVS and after MARIA. The letter A's in MARIA are with crossbars. Edge reading is NVMMORVM image image FAMVLVS • 1692 image image The edge reading is confirmed by the next item (040) in this collection. Superb Extremely Fine with full mint brilliance. Not only a new, unrecorded variety but surely one of the finest William and Mary tin halfpennies still in existence. Excessively rare.

Ex Bridgewater House, 15/16 June 1972, Lot 473 (part).

Ex Dr. T. Aitken, who purchased it from Spink in 1991 , collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
040 image 1692 1692 on the edge but 1691 in the exergue. William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. Weight 11.25g. BMC -- . Stop after GVLIELMVS and after MARIA. Also with Unbarred A's in MARIA. Edge reading is NVMMORVM image image FAMVLVS • 1692image image Dr Nicholson notes: " This has two Maltese crosses between the date and the word NVMMORVM, which confirms the reading of the previous item (Number 039) in the collection. BMC only records the Johnstone piece, except for the British Museum specimen, so that (039) was not seen by Peck." This piece listed in Peck as "J" for BMC 575. Similar to previous unrecorded piece (item number 039) except for unbarred A's in MARIA, also struck from a different obverse die. A little corrosion on the reverse towards the bottom, approaching Very Fine with a strong, crisp edge. Extremely rare.

Ex Dr. E.A. Johnstone, collection purchased by Baldwin (1973).

Ex Roger Shuttlewood, Spink Numismatic Circular, Jan 2001, item MC0214, 23-1-01, £350.
041 image 1692 William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. Weak Stop after GVLIELMVS. BMC 576. Edge reading is NVMMORVM image image FAMVLVS • 1692 image image MARIA with first A unbarred. The date appears in the exergue as well as on the edge. Weight 11.30g. Extremely Fine with few areas of wear and no surface corrosion. Extensive tin lustre on both sides. Edge very clear. An exceptional coin. Very rare. Purchased from Simon Porter, 31-3-1980.
042 image 1692 Date Unclear. William and Mary. Tin Halfpenny. Both sides double-struck to give doubled legends etc. Reverse rotated 90° (most unusual). BMC -- . Weight 11.66g. Almost Fine, no blistering, quite stable. Edge intact but not entirely readable. Very rare with rotated reverse axis.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
043 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 602. Weight 9.91g. Extremely Fine or better with good original copper lustre on both sides. Extremely rare in such high grade. Purchased from Colin Cooke, 10-5-1983.
044 image 1694 William and Mary. Heavy Flan. BMC -- . Weight 13.14g (202.7grains), which is 11% heavier than the upper limit quoted by Peck for "normal" specimens. A "normal" piece should lie between 139.6 and 182.0 grains. (A specimen in Glendining 30-4-1986 had an even heavier weight of 15.02g (231.75grains)). Though "heavy flan" is recorded for the corresponding farthing, it is not recorded for the halfpenny. The diameter is quite normal but even the casual observer would notice this coin is unusually thick. Perhaps a suitable reference would be BMC 602A. A strong, clear Good Fine to Almost Very Fine. Extremely rare. Purchased from Rarity Coins, 30-4-1979.
045 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 602 (variant). A's of MARIA seem unbarred as BMC 604, but hints of bars show on an enlargement of the photograph. Both E's on the obverse have large serifs and resemble B's but this is simply due to awkwardly large serifs. Weight 10.38g. Good Fine, strong and clear. All 1694 halfpennies have become rare in grades above Fair. Purchased from D. G. Barney, 17-12-1979.
046 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 602 (variant). Second A of MARIA has a very thin, weak bar. Weight 10.57g. E's on obverse have large serifs and appear like B's, which they are not. Dr Nicholson notes: "First A of MARIA has a clear bar, the second A has not and comes from a different letter punch." Fine and clear. Rare. Purchased from D G. Barney, 17-12-1979.
047 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 602 (variant). Weight 11.78g. E's on obverse have large serifs and appear like B's, which they are not. Seemingly first (and second ?) A in MARIA is unbarred but very faint trace of a defective bar is visible on an enlargement of the photograph. This coin could easily pass for the extremely rare BMC 604 to the less observant student, which, indeed, it resembles very closely. Fine/About Fine and clear. Rare. Date of acquisition uncertain.
048 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 602 (var). Weight 10.23g. E's on obverse have large serifs and appear like B's, which they are not. Clearly appears that both A's in MARIA are unbarred, but very close examination reveals very faint traces of bars. Therefore probably not BMC 604. Very Fine, very rare and important to the discussion about whether BMC 604 really exists.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
049 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 604. Weight 11.77g. MARIA with no trace of bars. BRITANNIA has very faint traces of bars on both A's, so normal. Good Fine/Fine. Extremely rare. (Only two locations recorded by Peck.)

Ex Peter W. Lawrence 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
050 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC -- . Weight 11.71g. IE over EI in GVLIELMVS. Only a little better than Fair to Near Fine but the alteration is unmistakeable. Extremely rare. Hitherto unpublished. Purchased from Nigel Clark, 19-5-1981.
051 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 603. Weight 10.29g. GVLIEMVS error legend. A bold Fair. Extremely rare (Peck recorded only one location).

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
052 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 603A. Weight 9.29g. MVRIA error. Extremely Rare. (Somewhat better grade than the Ashby piece exhibited at BNS in June 1961 (BNJ Volume 30, part 2, page 377) and sold at Glendinings 7-9-1983, Lot 184 (photographed).) Some double striking and date appears 1699 4. Note- Only this piece and the Ashby piece are so far known to this cataloguer. Lightly double-struck, Fair, very clear error. Extremely rare. Purchased from Seaby, 1-8-1979.
053 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 604*. Weight 11.01g. BRITANNIA with both A's unbarred with last I/A (or, more likely, over inverted V). Good Fine. Extremely Rare. (Peck recorded one location only in his main text but added a second specimen through the pages of BNJ Volume 36 (1967) pages 196-198, where he recorded a piece belonging to Mr C. Brett of Norwich.) Purchased from Coincraft, 2-5-1984.
054 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 605. Weight 9.72g. No Stop on Reverse. Good Fine. Very rare. Purchased from Coincraft, 2-5-1984.
055 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 605 (different obverse and reverse die from the other BMC 605 coin (054) in this collection). Weight 11.92g. No Stop on Reverse . Fine/Near Fine. Very rare.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
056 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC -- . Weight 10.98g. No stops at all, on either side (?). The end of the legend on both sides is very weakly struck, so doubt has to be entertained with respect to this coin's attribution. The stop after GVLIELMVS certainly seems to be missing. Needing further research. Weakly struck on one corresponding edge of the coin, thereby affecting both sides, a pleasing Fair.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
057 image 1694 William and Mary. Struck on a Thin flan. BMC -- . Otherwise similar to BMC 602. Weight only 7.57g, some 16% under the minimum weight quoted in Peck. Normal diameter. Somewhat double struck on both sides. Fair. Very rare, at least.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
058 image 1694 William and Mary. As BMC 602. Weight 8.92g. Coin turned in die and re-struck. Shows MVS and part of William's head on the reverse, and N of BRITANNIA on the obverse. Fair/Mediocre, unusual.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
059 image 1694 William and Mary. Similar to BMC 602. Weight 9.88g. Slightly off-centre, lettering double-struck. Large gap between ET and MARIA (proof?). Bold Good Fine with portraits better than this.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
060 image 1694 William and Mary. As BMC 602. Weight 10.01g. Good Fine/Fine, some double-striking on both sides.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
061 image 1694 William and Mary. Similar to BMC 602 but a "heavy flan". Weight 12.24g, which is almost half a gram heavier than the upper limit quoted by Peck for "normal" specimens. Some evidence of double-striking, a bold Fine. Most unusual heavy weight.

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
062 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC -- . Weight 10.23g. MARIA ( first A of MARIA unbarred). Similar to BMC 604. Almost Good Fine, very rare. Purchased from Croydon Coin Auctions as Proof BMC 615, which it is not. (Compare photo in Peck- different dies), 5-1-1994.
063 image 1694 William and Mary. Small, thicker flan. BMC 602 (variant). Weight 11.43g (normal). Fine with boldly struck portraits. Unusual flan. Date of acquisition uncertain.
064 image 1694 William and Mary. Large flan, somewhat double-struck. Weight 10.20g. Probably BMC 602, though sold by Croydon Coin Auctions as a Proof. (5-1-1994, Lot 216). Date area double-struck, Near Fine, unusual. Purchased from Croydon Coin Auction, 5-1-1994, Lot 216.
065 image 1694 William and Mary. Trial Halfpenny in ENGLISH COPPER. Long hair. Weight 8.28g. BMC 594. (See note in Peck page 160.) Reverse upright (highly unusual). Peck writes: "Most probably an official piece to determine the striking qualities of English copper, in preparation for the copper issue authorised by the House of Commons on 17th April 1694." Fine or a little better. Extremely Rare.

Ex Glendinings 10-2-1982 (photo).

Ex Spink Coin Auction 95, 25-11-1992, Lot 243 (£123). Seaby once had a specimen but with severe damage to the flan. No other specimen has appeared on the market in the last 22 years.
066 image 1694 William and Mary. Pattern Halfpenny. BMC 596 (var). Weight 12.35g. Diameter 32.7mm (much larger than usual). Superb Extremely Fine with good lustre. Extremely rare in this grade. A magnificent coin. Purchased from Spink Numismatic Circular, April 1991, item 1998 (£585).
067 image 1694 William and Mary. Pattern Halfpenny. BMC 598. Diameter only 29mm. Struck on a thinner flan than usual. Weight only 7.28g. Bust with short hair. Britannia seated on a chair. Good Very Fine/Very Fine. Extremely rare (Peck noted only one specimen outside the BM).

Ex Peter W. Lawrence, 28-11-1997, collection purchased by Colin Cooke (1996).
068 image 1694 William and Mary. Pattern Halfpenny. BMC 599. Weight 12.40g. Diameter 32.5mm (not 35mm as erroneously stated by Peck). Good Extremely Fine or better, practically as struck, with some original colour on both sides. A magnificent coin of outstanding quality. Of the highest rarity in this condition. Purchased from Colin Cooke, 6-2-1992.
069 image 1694 William and Mary. Pattern Halfpenny. BMC 600. Diameter 30mm. Plain edge. Weight 9.51g. Good Fine. Extremely rare. Purchased from KB Coins, 1-4-1998 (at Chester Coinex).
070 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 606. Extremely Rare. Overstruck on Charles II Halfpenny. Weight10.34g. The copper has a reddish tinge typical of the Swedish copper used for Charles II and not the darker, less pure English metal. On the reverse, the knees of Britannia are crossed by Charles' profile about 75 ° turned out of alignment (i.e. turn the reverse 75 ° clockwise to get Charles' portrait upright). Much easier to see on the coin than on the photograph. Peck recorded his own example as sole location. Another, much inferior piece appeared in Glendinings, 30-04-1986, Lot 283. It is not known whether the Nicholson coin is a third example, or if this might be the Peck example re-surfacing after many years. The 1985 description (see reference below) was "A little weak generally, otherwise with some bloom. Extremely Fine. Extremely rare." There is a natural "sheen" to the coin but no lustre. A magnificent coin, practically as struck and almost certainly the finest known of the very few specimens extant. Purchased from Spink Numismatic Circular, April 1985, item 2312, £650.
071 image 1694 William and Mary. Struck in Brass. BMC 607. Weight 8.26g. The only other known specimen is in the British Museum and struck off- centre. Near Extremely Fine and of the highest rarity. Purchased from Spink Numismatic Circular, April 1983, item 2263 and photographed, £800.
072 image 1694 William and Mary. Proof Halfpenny. BMC 611. T.M (obverse) about 2.5mm apart. Weight 13.39g. Edge striated. Extremely Fine or better, richly toned, practically as struck. A magnificent specimen. Excessively Rare (Peck recorded only the example in the British Museum, which is an inferior piece to this.) This is probably the finest example extant.

Ex Captain R. D. Wills, Glendinings, 06-12-1938.

Ex Gartner.

Ex W. J. Noble (Glendinings, 28-11-1973, Lot 37 (£210)).

Ex E. M. H. Norweb (part 3), Spink Coin Auction 56, 19-11-1986, Lot 991, (£412).
073 image 1694 William and Mary. Proof Halfpenny in Copper. BMC 612. Weight 10.04g. Same dies as BMC 611 but thin flan. Of the highest quality, practically as struck. Almost certainly the finest known. Bought from Colin Cooke June 1994 (£675).
074 image 1694 William and Mary. Proof Halfpenny in Copper. BMC 613. Weight 8.72g. T.M (obverse) about 1.0 mm apart and no flaw on rim. Edge plain. Near Extremely Fine, almost as struck. Extremely rare. If not the finest, then one of the finest examples still in existence. Purchased from Seaby, 7-8-1979.
075 image 1694 William and Mary. BMC 615 (variant). Proof Halfpenny. 30mm flan, heavy or thick flan, abnormally heavy at 13.51g. Described by Spink (see reference below) as "Proof, some light porosity, almost Extremely Fine" . Extremely Rare (Peck recorded only his own piece outside the British Museum). Dr Nicholson notes in his discussion about whether this is a proof at all : "It appears to have been struck from the same dies as the BMC No 615, which I have examined and which is illustrated in BMC. In this, a few letters, eg the obverse E's, are slightly imperfect, and all lack the elegance of the other proofs. My specimen is not quite so well struck as the BM piece and is slightly more worn. The obverse E's and the second A of BRITANNIA show the imperfections. The letters of the legend lack the perfection of the three other proofs [in this collection] and unlike them it is not struck en medaille. However, it is certainly superior to any currency piece." Purchased from Spink Numismatic Circular, October 1997, No 5111, (£250).
076 image No Date William and Mary. Pattern Halfpenny or medallet. BMC 636. Weight 9.69g. Obverse William, reverse Mary. With legends. Very Fine, most attractive, rare. Purchased from Glendinings, 30-4-1986, part lot 286.
077 image No Date William and Mary. Pattern Halfpenny or medallet. BMC 637. Weight 9.69g. Obverse William, reverse Mary. As BMC 636 but without legends. Good Fine, very rare. Purchased from Glendinings, 30-4-1986, part lot 286.

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