 1773 Virginia halfpenny. Period after Georgivs. N-20.X, B-181. MS-63. 123.6 grains. About half of the mint color remains on the obverse while the reverse shows more complete color, somewhat faded at the left rim. A bit of reflective lustre remains on the reverse. Some flyspecks and toning streaks are noted, but the visual appeal remains excellent. In many ways, a typical survivor from the 1930s marketplace—which is to say, much nicer than most around today. Eric Newman used this piece to illustrate his obverse 20 in his seminal ANS publication that first described the die varieties of the Virginia halfpence. The substantial population of survivors and the subtle differences between the varieties has limited the number of collectors of those die varieties, making for an opportunity to collect the series by Newman number before most of the varieties cost much of a premium. In any event, owning a Newman plate coin is a rare treat.
From the F.C.C. Boyd Collection; Stacks' sale of the John J. Ford Jr., Collection Part 7, January 2005, Lot 110. The original Ford lot ticket is included.
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