HIGGS countermark on UK 1799 ½d

[mrbadexample]

Afternoon all,

Can anyone shed any light on this HIGGS countermark please? Judging by the wear to the reverse I'd say it was contemporary.

Thanks,
MBE

[brandm24]

The Higgs stamp is listed in the Brunk reference as H-558 but is unidentified. Undoubtedly, Higgs was a merchant and the style and size suggests a cutler or tool maker. Names like this are seen often on old British coppers, especially the cartwheels. Your halfpenny is only the second example identified to date.

Sorry, I can't help further, MBE.

Bruce

[mrbadexample]

That's a start, thanks Bruce.

I don't have the Brunk reference - would you be able to post the appropriate page for me please?

Cheers.

[brandm24]

The book isn't available online but I can scan the page and try to get a decent image to you later, MBE

Bruce

[brandm24]

Brunk only lists Higgs in the index at the back of the book, not in the body. This is what he has but it won't be of much help, MBE.

HIGGS
H-588  1806 ENGLISH PENNY

As I said yours is only the second example documented. I'm going to look around a bit and see if anything pops up. If Higgs is a cutler, he likely practiced in Sheffield as that was the center of the English cutlery industry.

Bruce

[FosseWay]

A minor thing but I think the host coin is a 1799 halfpenny, not 1806/7. The outline of the king's portrait fits 1799 better IMO, with a broader shoulder/chest section rather than the rather "top heavy" 1806 version.

[mrbadexample]

A minor thing but I think the host coin is a 1799 halfpenny, not 1806/7. The outline of the king's portrait fits 1799 better IMO, with a broader shoulder/chest section rather than the rather "top heavy" 1806 version.

Gosh, you're absolutely right of course. I didn't give it much of a glance really. The curve under Britannia is still visible (I like this design as it was originally intended for a "cartwheel" halfpenny which was never issued).

Thanks for the correction. 

[mrbadexample]

Brunk only lists Higgs in the index at the back of the book, not in the body. This is what he has but it won't be of much help, MBE.

HIGGS
H-588  1806 ENGLISH PENNY

As I said yours is only the second example documented. I'm going to look around a bit and see if anything pops up. If Higgs is a cutler, he likely practiced in Sheffield as that was the center of the English cutlery industry.

Bruce

Thank you Bruce.

It strikes me that this would be happier in your collection than mine. I don't collect countermarks and I have a (much!) better example of the halfpenny.

Let me know if you're interested.