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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jimski, post: 2899856, member: 77373&quot;]It&#039;s time for 1787.</p><p><br /></p><p>Three coins from the post-colonial, pre-Constitution USA period that are attributed to the renowned American contemporary counterfeiter Machin’s Mills:</p><p><br /></p><p>The following is from an important paper regarding what is commonly known as “Machin’s Mills” coinage. </p><p><br /></p><p>From: <u>James Atlee’s Imitation British Halfpence</u>; Gary A. Trudgen, The Colonial Newsletter March 1987:</p><p><br /></p><p><i>The British halfpence was the most heavily counterfeited coin in the eighteenth century. Most of the counterfeiting was done in England, however, a small amount was also done in America. The majority of the American-made halfpence, as attributed by Robert Vlack in 1974, have been routinely credited to Thomas Machin&#039;s &quot;Manufactory of Hardware&quot; </i>{commonly Machin’s Mills}.<i> This includes all the varieties that are dated 1747, 1771, 1772, 1774,1775, 1776, 1778, 1787 and 1788. In this article I intend to show that these imitation halfpence are indeed the product of James F. Atlee, Thomas Machin&#039;s partner and die engraver, however, all of the varieties were NOT struck at Machin&#039;s Mills. …</i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Trudgen indicates that Machin’s Mills minted British halfpence are limited to those dated 1778, 1787 and 1788.&nbsp; The 1778 halfpence were predated, and were likely struck in 1788. Halfpence dated 1776 and earlier and some coins dated 1787 were struck with Atlee dies produced prior to his work at Machin’s Mills.</p><p><br /></p><p>Regarding the identification of Atlee’s imitation British halfpence (commonly Machin’s Mills’) coinage, folks talk about triangular dentils and pursed lips (neither of which is sufficient).&nbsp;&nbsp; I’ll add a third criteria, the coins must possess a marvelously ugly representation of George III (I&#039;m not the first to suggest this).</p><p><br /></p><p>1787 imitation British halfpenny, attributed to Machin’s Mills, type Vlack 21 II 87D II, R4 very scarce.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]698279[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]698280[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>1778 Imitation British halfpence, attributed to Machin’s Mills, Vlack 11-78A, R3 scarce.&nbsp; The coin was likely struck in 1788, and was predated for some reason.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]698281[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]698282[/ATTACH]</p><p>This is the only Vlack 11-78A that I have found (to date) with the cud at 2:00 on the obverse.&nbsp; I believe the porous streaking is due to planchet quality.&nbsp; The coin is bent which has spared it from a life confined to a slab (fortunate for me).</p><p><br /></p><p>1788 Counterfeit Connecticut copper, attributed to Machine’s Mills, type Miller 7-E, R5 rare.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]698283[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]698284[/ATTACH]</p><p>From <u>The Coins of Colonial and Early America</u>, Louis Jordan, University of Notre Dame, Department of Special Collections. <a href="https://coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/CT-Copper.intro.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/CT-Copper.intro.html" rel="nofollow">https://coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/CT-Copper.intro.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p><i>… it is now thought all 1788 dated Connecticut copper derive from Machin&#039;s Mills</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Liberty’s shield on the Connecticut Copper series’ reverse features the 3 grape vines of the Connecticut coat of arms rather than the British Union Jack.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]698292[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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