Lot 773

Description

Nottingham, Donald and Co., pattern halfpenny 1792, man working in loom, 29 Bull Street, Birmingham 1792/Shropshire stock reverse die (D&H 9) with man working machine for the inclined plane at Ketley (D&H 10, listed but not illustrated, both this and a similar pattern D&H 9 were unknown to Waters). Attractive medium brown patina extremely fine or about as struck and probably unique.

Ex J.R. Farnell (part II, lot 9) collection (and from his family by descent). This unique trial pattern shows the obverse in its completed form. Striking pressure was insufficient to allow metal to flow freely into the design in the centre of the reverse. T.Wyon produced dies for Kempson for both the issuers concerned here however the style of die cutting suggests another engraver of Kempson's tried his hand at the design.