I just came into a handful of 1861 and 1862 Half Pennies and was wondering if there was an online resource for identification of the various varieties. I know there are quite a few variations. I'll post a couple photos below in case anything jumps out at anyone. They aren't in particularly good condition. Thanks!
Nice haul! Don't know if you've seen this, or if it will help but - https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide...-km-748.2-1860-1874-cuid-1175576-duid-1322807 I think I see one that says 'HALP' (4th pic, top row?)
This site is very useful http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/halfp.html If you're going to be handling a lot of these coins I'd suggest just buying the Freeman catalog "The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain". It's not expensive as far as useful numismatic references go.
A very nice haul! Condition is actually not bad for halfpennies of this age - they were very much a "work-horse" coin and so decent examples are rare. There are also, sadly, far fewer serious collectors for them than for the pennies and farthings. As others have said, there is a shortage of good online references and those mentioned are about as good as it gets. (There are excellent fully photographed online refs for both pennies and farthings if anyone needs them.) The Freeman book is your best bet - it has been reprinted recently with many updates and amendments and is available on Amazon (publisher Rotographic). If you are going to keep and develop the collection I recommend joining the forum at predecimal.com where there are a number of enthusiastic collectors and experts to advise you. They would certainly clarify your potential HALP - I thought this was only known on an 1861 but there have been claims of an 1862 version, so you might be lucky. (If on the other hand you are going to move them on, I might be interested... )
No Problems! Pennies: https://headsntails14.wordpress.com/ Farthings: http://aboutfarthings.co.uk/catalogue/uk-farthings/
Late I know, but https://halfpennyvarieties.wordpress.com/ is the most up-to date online resource on British bronze halfpennies that I'm aware of. https://www.commonwealthcoins.net/book/british-fractional-bronze / https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/tom...perback/product-v28dzm.html?page=1&pageSize=4 is the most up to date physical book that I'm aware of. https://www.amazon.com.au/Bronze-Coinage-Great-Britain/dp/1902040783 and the 2016 reprint are good but neither is in print any more as far as I'm aware (unfortunate). Coin News has had a few articles on the halfpennies of 1860 to 1894 too - Iain Dracott has written the articles (https://www.coincuriosity.com/coin-news.html has one but he wrote three in 2004 as well I think). Anyway, worth checking as I believe there are seven different varieties of 1862 halfpenny and many more of the 1861.
