1766 Half Penny William Pitt - Tin

Coin Details

Auction Record

$9,400 AU50 08-05-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1766 William Pitt Half Penny struck in tin is the rarest metal variant in the Pitt Token half penny series. Tin was an unusual choice for token production, as the metal is relatively soft, prone to oxidation (tin pest), and produces a distinctive dull gray appearance quite different from copper or silvered versions. The obverse features the bust of William Pitt the Elder facing right with the tribute legend, while the reverse displays a ship under sail symbolizing colonial trade freedom. The choice of tin may reflect an experimental or small-batch production decision, creating a visually distinct variant for collectors or as a trial to evaluate the metal's suitability for token production. Tin had historical associations with English coinage — tin farthings and halfpennies were produced by the Royal Mint during the reigns of Charles II and James II in the 1680s to support the Cornish tin mining industry — so a tin Pitt Token would have resonated with numismatically aware collectors of the period. However, tin's susceptibility to corrosion, particularly the phenomenon known as "tin pest" where the metal slowly disintegrates in cold temperatures, means that surviving tin Pitt Tokens are exceptionally rare and often in compromised condition. The tin half penny completes the trifecta of metals used for the half penny denomination in the Pitt Token series, alongside copper and silvered copper, and represents the ultimate rarity for collectors pursuing a complete set.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Tin Pitt Half Pennies are the scarcest metal in the series. The fragility of tin means very few examples have survived intact.

Cross References

PCGS #250; Breen; cf. PCGS #236 (Copper), PCGS #239 (Silvered); historical precedent: Royal Mint tin farthings/halfpennies 1684-1692