1870 Penny.

[Peckris 579]

I'd speculate they might have used a halfpenny letter punch, but there's no O in HALFPENNY.

[Danz 9]

I did wonder but like you said no O in HALFPENNY.

[Greaves 1]

Michael Gouby states the 1870 penny has an S4 or Scarce rarity rating. As previously stated in "The British Bronze Penny 1860-1970" only a type A penny is listed (Obverse J, Reverse g). The ISBN for the book is 0 948855 00 2.

[Rob 3,002]

There is no reason why any smaller O has to be a halfpenny. There are many denominations in Victoria's reign in other metals. There are digits with and without serifs. There are letters of different fonts. There are odd shape punches which were often used for repair work, any or all of which could apply.

[Peckris 579]

There is no reason why any smaller O has to be a halfpenny. There are many denominations in Victoria's reign in other metals. There are digits with and without serifs. There are letters of different fonts. There are odd shape punches which were often used for repair work, any or all of which could apply.

Yes, but the argument was "what if halfpenny punches had been used in error?" The fact that other punches also existed is irrelevant - they wouldn't be all mixed up in the same box I would have thought.

[Greaves 1]

Is there not a case for saying this 1870 penny is 14 beads wide, including the one to the right of the one under the centre of the 0? Just looking at the top picture of Gouby's descriptions of 1858 pennies:

http://www.michael-coins.co.uk/cp_1858.htm

CP A is 11 beads wide and there is no bead under the centre of the 1. The left hand edge of the first bead of the 11 is slightly to the left of the 1 and is roughly in the same position as the "14th" on the 1870. If the bead count is 14 does this it make it a rarity?