1860 farthing, an observation

[SRSNUM]

In the previous post, several digital images of the obverse of the 1860 farthing in my collection were shown.  Below is a duplicate of the "F:D:" image from the previous post.  Is this image an example of the colon after "F:D"with the designation of 1 1/2 (1.5) stops?

 

The following cropped image is taken from the aboutfarthings site of the 1860 farthing.  It is designated obverse 3 and is from the same area for comparison.  Is this a full colon (2 stops)?

                                                                                                                                             

The following cropped image of an 1860 farthing is taken from the aboutfarthings site and is designated obverse 3a.  Is this colon an example with designation 1 stop?

                                                                                                                                                      

 

Comments much appreciated.  srsnum

[Colin G.]

There are numerous factors at play here, the single stop coins are usually die fill, which is what is likely with 3a because the faint outline of the stop can be seen and therefore questionable whether it is just a progressive flaw and shouldn't be given too much attention in my opinion. Obverse 3 has die polishing lines across the area where the lower stop would be and therefore this is a clear variety in my mind.

The 1.5 stops was just a term I used to distinguish between the two varieties, one variety has the bust overlapping the legend and therefore the colon stop is incomplete, sometimes it is half a stop, sometimes it is just the edge that is missing. On the full colon types you can normally see a recess in the back of the bust where the stop punch surround overlays the bust. This is normally a clear indicator of each of the types.

It is unclear whether this feature is a result of either:

1. Sequencing of the placement of the bust or legend onto the original design, and therefore one overlaps the other depending on which aspect was applied first

2. The more likely scenario is that the original master die had 1.5 stops due to the explanation above, and on some working dies it has been reworked with a punch to correct the partial stop

Your top image certainly carries the features associated with a 1.5 stop coin.

[Coinery]

The 3a die looks to be different entirely, letters and single stop from wire line etc.?

[SRSNUM]

Many thanks to Coinery and Colin G. for their clarifying comments.