Minor GB Penny Queries 1899 narrow date 1880 higher 0 and 1889 Victoria's Nose

[Peckris 2]

Recut letters - a frequent occurrence on Victorian coppers and bronze.

[The Bee]

One possible repair on "F" in F.D. 1862 Penny . Top of the F seems to slope upwards.

And an 1858 Farthing , with a slightly broken 5 in the date 

Best Regards

 

[The Bee]

1858 Halfpenny

Hi,

Couple of images from an 1858 Halfpenny. Wondered if the last 8 might be an overdate ? If not - still very pleased to find a R over R in Gratia 

Very Best Regards

[Rob]

It's an 1858 over 6. I thought it might be from the same dies as mine, but isn't though. I know there are at least 2 8 over 6 dies. Here's mine.

Edited March 21 by Rob

[Rob]

What is interesting however, is that although the R is overcut on both dies, the 2 styles of R are reversed in relief. That provides a good id for which die is involved.

Date also attached to compare teeth position relative to numerals.

[The Bee]

Many thanks Rob,

Great to confirm its an 1858 over 6. But as you say , its even more interesting that the overcut R is different and the date vs the teeth positions are different especially the last eight.  

Many thanks for sharing the photos !

(I've been determined to get my money's worth since buying my Tomlov microscope - now I wouldn't be without it)

I'll photograph the obverse and reverse and share later  

Query - is it usual for the teeth. including that odd one under the 5, would be identical on different dies ? (the bit jutting out from that tooth looks identical in both examples ?) 

Very Best Regards  

[Rob]

You have a master with 18 on it used to make the die, then the last two figures of the date are added later for individual dies

[The Bee]

Many thanks Rob, So there is a Master Die, made out of particularly tough material that is used to create further dies, which need the last two digits added, to mint the halfpenny

So, if I check my other 1850's Halfpennies, I should find the same "tooth" on other dates

Here is my 8 over 6  / R over R in GRATIA (I think that there is a blob at end of the foot of the E in DEI)

Very Best Regards

 

[The Bee]

Pennies 1905 smaller zero's and 1896 damaged die ?

For fun I bought the other week 9kg of circulated pennies at auction. They were probably in some kind of order when the auction house kindly put them in the box, but having been shaken about by Parcelforce, they ended up well shuffled.

Just started wading through and I've pulled out a few for a closer look

There appear to be two 1905's pennies with the smaller zeros (normally I don't find any) and an 1896 penny which initially I thought was damage, but now assume was a die problem. It looks like someone has put some extra bronze on top of some of the C and T in Victoria and a bit in Dei     

[Martinminerva]

1 hour ago, The Bee said:

but now assume was a die problem

Yes - a circumferential die crack. The tops of letters were particularly vulnerable points for this. The other type of die crack is called radial which emanate outwards like "spokes"