Jeff T. writes: I understand that in 1952, certain pennies were accidentally released which were stamped with only half of the penny visible and the remainder of the circular coin showing a crescent of plain unprinted copper. I have this misstamped penny. Could you give me an idea of its value? How about a 1750’s King George ha’penny from colonial times?
The weakly struck coin you described is not limited to 1952 and may be the result of improperly set striking pressure or the result of being struck through some foreign material. The cloth used in polishing the dies might be the culprit. These kinds of errors are not unusual and their value usually falls in the $2-$10 range.
As for your halfpence: This British denomination was the most common coin used in Colonial North America. There are several private and American state imitations of this coin but they were minted after 1781 and were an attempt to address the severe coin shortage that existed in Colonial America in this period. Earlier pieces circulated in both Colonial America and England. A Geo II halfpence in average circulated condition would bring less than $10. ‘Just goes to show that age doesn’t equate with value!
