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For reference, here's a close up of the London Coins type...……..where the serif doesn't look like an afterthought

True, the serif does very much look like an afterthought especially in the second and third versions shown. The serif in the first image does look far more conventional. I wonder whether there was ever a ‘no serif’ die. Jerry

From those pictures, and the one Mike posted, it looks very much as though the serif was added separately. Maybe due to a later decision to add one, or perhaps because it was difficult to engrave a 3 + serif in one go?

Well, it's nearly that time to pick this coin up, i called yesterday but the grading week was still on-going and also have to wait for the bill to land in my email, the lady did say it was done although the grades haven't been uploaded which is one thing i do find frustrating about NGC, PCGS list the grade virtually as soon as it's gone through the graders final look over. I suppose i'll just have to wait and see what it is when i go back.......... Munich coin fair this weekend also, even got the boss to come along with me, a coinie in the making, think i've bored her into eventual submission 😀

Agreed Jerry, I think that these two types (pictures attached) both have downward serifs which point differently to the London Coins one which Mike has pictured

The fact that there are three subtlety different ‘open three’’s in 1863 would suggest that this was a deliberate experiment and not a one-off mistake, though I cannot tie it in with the 1903. I suppose it could have been an alternative way of marking individual dies, more subtle than die numbers in what clearly was a year for study/experimentation. But I am not aware of any serious study on the topic. Jerry

Second time lucky.

That would make it 3 die letter A's to the LEFT of the lighthouse, and 1 die letter A to the RIGHT of the lighthouse....