The Midwest Summer Sale
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Please Note: A 15% Buyers' Premium is added to the hammer price of all lots in this sale.
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(About The Images)
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Lot Title:
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1766 William Pitt Halfpenny Token, Betts 519, Breen 251. NGC XF-40 BN.
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Description:
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In your cataloger's experience (which admittedly is hardly vast for Pitt halfpennies), this example is substantially better than the average for the type. Although the details grade is just about right for commercial grading standards, the surface quality is exquisite, with scarcely a mark or fault to detract from the exemplary chocolate-brown smoothness that characterizes each side. Carefully retained at the edges is a significant portion of original luster, perhaps indicative of higher commercial grade consideration. Seldom commented upon by catalogers is the fact that most, if not all Pitt tokens display interesting arrangement of the reverse devices such that there is no clear distinction as to which viewing angle is most appropriately considered "upright". The ship appears to be alighting in flight toward the word AMERICA written nearly vertically in the right field. The halfpennies were produced in this country to honor "The Great Commoner" Sir William Pitt, who spoke out in Parliament against the Stamp Act and was honored by merchants on both sides of the Atlantic for his stance. His efforts eventually let to repealing of the hated act in 1766. Pitt tokens apparently served as commercial pieces, as few survive today in high grades, and pleasing XF examples such as the one at hand provide an attractive alternative to more costly pieces.
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Low Estimate:
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$1,950.00 |
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High Estimate:
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$2,100.00 |
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Lot Status:
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Bidding has been closed for this lot. |
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Hammered Price: |
$2,000.00
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Price Realized:
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$2,300.00 |
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Price history for items of the same classification:
No history for this lot classification has been found. |