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Queen anne pattern proofs
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Pattern Proofs Queen Anne (1702 -1714) During her reign Queen Anne Issued no halfpennies, due to the copper shortage of 1706,but by the end of her reign pattern proofs were issued and privatley sold by the mint to Firstly in 1712 the first farthing was issued by the mint under the queen to show the public what the coinage would have looked like. they became popular with the lords of the isles and in 1714 they were issued but as a slow production. Then the halfpenny was introduced once the copper shortage was in decline in 1714 also. The coin was larger than the other halfpenny designs before her, and was a breakthrough in the coinage of the time, the queen was portrayed differently and the copper showed off her extravigent life style. There are only a few types known of the design, there is the rose reverse with Britannia on obverse (Anne Portrayed as Britannia) 1714 there was the Queen Anne Bust obverse with Britannia Reverse anne again pictured as Britannia. The 3rd type known was issued in 1715 after her death by George I, This type is The Britannia Bust Reverse, Anne's Bust and Obverse Rose Pattern Chosen by the queen herself. This design was found in amongst some test dies done by the mint, in one of it's vaults in 1716, but was badly damaged so the design was copied and re-minted in 1716, By The King, and the Letter "R" was added to the side of the coin to show that it had been produced by the king regent George I.
All Types of halfpenny and farthings are listed in Peck Ref:- PF 53 NF 88. They are also listed in silver coinage by Alan Rayner.
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