Some free time at the counterfeit mint!!! <bg> 1772 Irish Counterfeit Halfpenny. Ex. Mike Ringo Collection.
Most likely a modern Chinese counterfeit similar to other spectacular "error" coins they have been producing the last few years. Examples I have seen are early US copper, IHCs, Two Cent pieces and Shield and Liberty Nickels.
Don't think so. "Ex Mike Ringo" means a lot, not the least being that it's been around for some time.
Have to admit, though, that if the Chinese are counterfeiting counterfeit halfpence and doing it well, then the problem is worse than I thought. That thought sends a chill down my spine. If nerarities is who I think he is, he's as good as there is at spotting the real McCoy, with or without a pedigree. I have no doubt that this one is real. Nevertheless, your note is a welcome reminder to those of us who don't see pieces like this every day. Thanks for the warning.
I dont blame anyone for commenting that this might be a chinese counterfeit. It is really an incredible coin that seems almost unbelievable. Just a little history. Mike Ringo was one of the few experts on contemporary Irish and British counterfeits starting his study in the early 80s. He passed away from liver failure at way to young of an age (58). Stacks received his collection and auctioned his best pieces (mainline examples) in January 2009. This was a piece he traded a 1796 quarter in F15 for in 1985. He thought it was one of the greatest errors in a series he understood before anyone else had done serious study in it. Today, there are many collectors of Irish counterfeits, as they are proven to have circulated along US made coins in colonial america. The chinese have incredible talent as I have seen in displays and talks at recent coin shows. However, there is one thing they do not have, pedigrees!!! I think personally that pedigreed coins, whether from the Eliasberg collection or a reputable dealer are going to mean a lot going forward in our hobby. This piece for example I saw at the ANA in Baltimore for the first time (I believe that was 2002, which was when Mike finally acquired it) before being in the collection of a well known collector of the series since 1961!!! ARGuy, thank you for the kind words. Seems in my short time here, we are making a good team!
