Notes:

Images courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.

Significant examples:
PCGS MS-65 Red and Brown.  Ex - Superior Stamp and Coin's "Pre-Long Beach Sale" September 19-21, 1999, Lot 306, "Breen-186 Thick Planchet...The only identifying mark is a small spot of darker toning under the right side of the shield."

Recent appearances:
PCGS MS-64 Red & Brown (illustrated above).  Ex - Paul Arthur Norris - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Pre-Long Beach Sale", September 23 & 24, 2002, Lot 29, illustrated, where it was described as follows: "Thick planchet. PCGS graded MS-64 Red and Brown. An outstanding example of this rare issue, one which boasts lovely mint red in the protected fields, and light tan toning elsewhere. The surfaces are very clean, as expected on a near gem coin, and examination will not find fault. One tiny speck is noted on the back foot of the elephant, and this will help identify this specimen in the future. Fully struck throughout, with bold details on the elephant and lettering. Peck believed these were struck around 1672, while the Guide Book guesses the year was 1694, while others say 1680. The motto GOD PRESERVE LONDON probably refers to the outbreak of the Black Death Plague and Great London Fire of 1665-6. The exact circumstances of the Elephant halfpence is not known, but a few did turn up in non collector accumulations in New Jersey and New York, where all coins were greatly needed for commerce."

"About Uncirculated".  Ex - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, June 9, 2001, Lot 1234, where it was described as follows: "(1694) London Elephant Halfpenny Token, Thick Planchet, About Uncirculated  238.6 grains. Pleasing, glossy brown surfaces. Nicely centered on a very thick planchet. Faint, old, reverse scratches."

PCGS EF-40.  Ex - Ira S. Reed, July 21, 1944 at $3.50 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 25 at $1,035.00, where it was described (in part) as follows: "Although the actual year struck is not known, it is believed they were coined in the period 1666 to 1690, with the dates 1672 and 1680 most commonly quoted. The reason behind the production of this piece is unknown, but the reverse provides a clue in GOD PRESERVE LONDON that they were made after the devastating London fire of 1666 and the plague of the same year. We do know that some of these apparently came over with Mark Newby's "St. Patrick" coppers, as elephant tokens have been found in non-collector accumulations in New York and New Jersey of the period (Breen)."

"Fine".  Ex - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, June 9, 2001, Lot 1235

PCGS VG-10.  Ex - Superior Galleries "The ANA 2001 National Money Show Auction", March 8-9, 2001, Lot 3 at $345.00, "...lamination void at the rim right of the shield."

Sources and/or recommended reading: