'1778' 1/2P Machin's Mills, BN MS(PCGS#466)

'1778' 1/2P Machin's Mills, BN MS (PCGS#466)

The November 2012 Baltimore Auction

Lot Description: Superb Quality Vlack 13-78B Ex: Ted Craige 1778 Machin's Mills Halfpenny. Vlack 13-78B, W-7840. Rarity-5. GEORGIVS III. EF-40 (PCGS). 125.0 grains. One of the finest known specimens of this variety, with chocolate brown surfaces that retain good lustrous gloss and exhibit nearly unheard of sharpness. The planchet is somewhat flawed, with scattered pits on the obverse device and some crudeness at the rims. The fields themselves are hard and glossy, though the reverse looks rough due to the advanced die state, which also nearly decapitates Britannia. The Ringo collection included two specimens of this rare variety to show the early and late die state. As cataloger Tom Rinaldo noted, this is "a tough variety to find in any grade, although the late die state is most common." The Ringo coins were graded VF-30 (LDS) and VF-25 with rim bruises (EDS). This is far finer than either and likely sits in the top half of the six-coin Condition Census. We know of only one finer. PCGS# 466. Provenance: From the John "Jack" Royse Collection. PCGS Population (all varieties): 2; 3 finer (AU-55 finest).