This section covers my growing collection of British Halfpennies, although I don't know that I will ever have every date I am slowly working on it. I've shown images of all the dates up to 1807, and then types after that. "P" numbers are referenced to Pecks "English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins in the British Museum 1558 - 1958", a must have reference for collectors of British coppers. As mentioned on the British page many British pieces have yet to be graded by a top tier TPG, so take the population reports on the modern (post-Victoria) coins with a grain of salt.

Note that if you decide to collect high grade early British copper it's not the price that will get you as most pieces are very reasonable, it's the scarcity of choice and gem material that makes it hard to collect. As examples check the PCGS and NGC population reports, a 1799 business strike is the most common Geo. III Halfpenny that I see. In MS65 a total of 30 coins have been graded, and 24 in MS66, that includes Brown, R&B, and Red. It just means you may be looking quite a while before buying one.  Many other dates show less than 10 total in MS64 and above, counting both TPG's census, and some of these may have been resubmitted, or submitted to cross between the TPG's.

With the prices being realized in early 2010 for gem British material the above is not quite so true, nowadays prices will also be a limitation to building a collection. Although still not nearly as high as US coin prices the scarce material seems to be gaining quickly.

Charles II - c.1665-1670, PF58, P-404. Engraved by Roettier, the reverse legend "I claim the four seas" was removed from the currency issues. Although listed by NGC as 1670, these were likely minted closer to 1665.

William and Mary - 1694 MS62. During this period the Royal Mint was still struggling with manufacture of these large coppers. This particular piece is remarkable for the lack of porosity on the obverse, which plagues this issue. The reverse shows a little more porosity, and rather typical weak strike but is none the less better than the average specimen. Population 1/0.

George 1 - 1718 AU55, 1st issue. Peck lists this no stops on obverse variety as very rare. Spink does not list a value above the grade of VF. This will have to be reslabbed due to the scratches on the obverse of the slab.

George II (Young Head) - 1739 MS63 BN.

George II (Old Head) - 1752 MS64 RB, all George II copper in red brown and red is hard to find.

Although George III's reign began in 1760 the Royal Mint was a mess. No halfpennies were struck until 1770, with many tokens issued by various businesses being used in every day commerce. There are many contemporary forgeries of these George III pieces and they are tougher than you would think in high  grade. Many were almost immediately pulled from circulation when issued to be replaced by underweight counterfeits. George III halfpennies were issued in 1770-1775, 1799, 1806 and 1807.

Note that this early series has two major design types, with and without stops after Britannia on the reverse, and one major error in the 1772 with Georius instead of Georgius.

George III - 1770 MS63 RB, a decent strike and tough to find in RB designation.

George III - 1771 MS63 BN,  Really well struck, a few dark spots show in the images on the reverse but are not so noticeable in hand.

George III - 1772 MS64 BN

George III - 1772 Georius (instead of Georgius) error NGC 64 BN. Peck lists these as rare, although at least 1 or 2 seem to come up for sale every year. Population 1/0 at NGC.

George III - 1773  MS 64 BN, weakly struck on the reverse, and a cloudy scratched up slab on the obverse. This one will need to be reslabbed at some point.

George III - 1774 MS64 BN

George III - 1775 MS64 BN, but as you can see from the image a lot of red left on this one, and very well struck.

George III - 1799 MS65 BN, the 1799 is by far the most common date of George III halfpennies and readily available in high grade. There are estimated to be 50 or more varieties of reverse ship die designs, the major varieties are 5, 6, or 9 gunports.

George III - 1806 , there are two "major" varieties of the 1806, one with 3 berries on the olive branch, and one with no berries.

1806 three berries reverse, NGC 66 RB.

1806 No berries reverse, NGC 64 BN.

George III - 1807 MS 66 BN, a recent upgrade to the set.

Proofs and Patterns

From 1775 to 1799, and again until 1806, no circulation strike halfpennies were issued. During this period a great many patterns were developed however, a few are shown here. There are various patterns by Droz, the Soho mint, and later restrikes by both the Soho mint and Taylor. Patterns were made in copper, bronze, and gilt copper. A few of the early series proofs exist (1770-1775) but are quite scarce, and currency Proofs are also available for the 1799 and later dates.

1790 P971 PF63 Bronzed Proof

1795 P1054 PF64, the famous bare breasted Britannia, and a lovely design with the wide rims. This is the coin that got me started on early copper.

1799 P1234 PF64 Bronzed (currency Proof)

1799 P1260 PF64BN Restrike, very strong cameo contrast on the devices.

1805 P1309 PF64 BN Restrike

1806 Gilt PF64 Cameo.

1807 P1383  PR64 BN Restrike

George IV - 1826 Proof PR65 BN. 1826 was the first year specimen, or proof sets, were officially offered for sale. Mintage of under 200.

William IV - 1831 Proof PF65 Bronzed, William IV coppers (including proofs) are tough to find. The 1831 with an estimated mintage of about 150. This one exhibiting strong cameo contrast.

Victoria - 1876 H Proof 66 RB. The proofs of record throughout this period are all very - extremely rare.

This section gets back to the business strike halfpennies.

George IV- 1826 MS64 RB, a very tough coin in red brown grades.

Victoria - 1855 MS66 RB, well struck and with very nice luster.

Victoria - 1862 MS64RB, Toothed borders.

Victoria - 1874 H MS64BN, Beeded borders. The Heaton mint coined for England during a period when the Royal Mint was unable to keep up with demand.

Victoria - 1890 MS66 RB, mature bust. The highest graded and it looks much better in hand than my poor photo. There are not a lot of Halfpennies graded 66 in the entire Victoria series, so you have to act pretty fast when one is available. Once again it's not high prices, it's the lack of material at this grade level.

Victoria  - 1895 MS65 RD, really well struck, the veiled head portrait.

Edward VII - 1902 High Sea Level version, MS66 RB. Edward VII copper seems very difficult to find in high grade. This is the highest graded by NGC .

George V - 1912 MS64 BN, this is a really rich looking coin in hand.

Geroge V (Modified Effigy) - 1927 MS65 RB

George V - 1933 MS 65 RB