417, Lot: 603. Estimate $200. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

TOKENS, Yorkshire. Halifax. John Brearcliffe. Æ Halfpenny Token (20mm, 2.59 g, 9h). Struck mid 17th century. John/ Brearcliffe/ in Halifax/ his halfe/ Penny in five lines in script / Skull and crossbones; above, banner inscribed RESPICE FINEM. Williamson 104; SCBI 49 (Norweb), 5865 (this coin). Fine, warm brown surfaces. Extremely rare.

Ex Christopher Street Collection; E. M. Norweb Collection (Spink 149, 15 November 2000), lot 102, purchased from Seaby, 1974; H. Hird Collection (Glendining’s, 6 March 1974), lot 285 (part of).

“John Brearcliffe was a surgeon in Halifax, where he died in 1682, aged 63. He was a noted antiquary, fond of collection everything related to his native town.” (Williamson p. 1317)