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Auction: CSS61 - South East Asian Banknotes and Coins
Lot: 6146

Penang, East India Company, 1/2 cent 1787, rosette, NGC MS 61 BN "DOT ROSETTE", (Prid-10), (KM 2.2), (NGC cert # 4692672-015).
Superb condition for a first series Penang copper coin.
While not a rarity in circulated condition, an excellent example of this one-year issue.
*Note: On the Penang silver and bronze coinage of 1787-1788 the dies were deeply cut at the Calcutta Mint. This meant that on striking the currency coins the metal on virtually all pieces seen did not flow fully into these deeply engraved characters. Accordingly the top surfaces of the words all appear flat, giving the impression of wear. But his coin is new, and there is no wear, it is simply the fact that not enough pressure was applied to fully strike the coins. On these particular dies it should be noted that if more pressure was used the dies were more likely to fracture from stress, causing expense and delays. (Original Barrett description: "Sharp Almost Uncirculated, Much original colour".)
One of three pieces graded by NGC, of which this is the finest (tied with one).
Pedigree: Purchased from Format, Birmingham, 20 January 1986.
Please go to the auction description of the sale and follow the link there to see the coin rotational videos and Pridmore scans.

Sold for
HK$12,000

Starting price
HK$11500