1766 1/2P William Pitt, Copper, BN MS(PCGS#236)

1766 1/2P William Pitt, Copper, BN MS (PCGS#236)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

详细说明: 74.4 grains. Handsome autumn-brown surfaces are further enhanced by blushes of nicely blended olive-copper patina. Light rub engages the high points, confirming a short stint in circulation, but there are no mentionable marks apart from a couple of faint scratches in the left obverse field; the expansive reverse field is remarkably smooth and untroubled. Both sides are boldly defined from a well centered, well executed strike. As written in our Martin sale:<p><em>A Pitt halfpenny is on every colonial collectors want list. They exist in every grade, as they seem to have been commonly adopted among the circulating coppers for their size and similar design. Despite the relatively large numbers issued, and the fact that these are technically medalets, they are incredibly rare in high grade. Their target audience was not collectors with mahogany cabinets, but rank and file colonists, the kind of folks who might buy one as a souvenir and end up having to spend it someday. Apparently, most did just that.</em><p>And once spent, the typical example circulated long and hard enough to grade no finer than EF today, and often with (significant) problems in tow. The August specimen in PCGS AU-50 was particularly fortunate to escape both heavy wear and impairments, and ranks as one of the nicest circulated Pitt halfpenny tokens available to discerning numismatists.