just won this 1853 farthing, overstrike on the 5?

[scott]

cant make out what on earth it is, definaly an over strike of some sorts, thought it was 5 over 3 last night but the shape on the top of the 5 sort of rins that, 5 over 5 perhaps, on the image as it was without zoom it even looks like 5 over 6 definalty not a 2

needless to say £4.95 + £1.30 postage for a aEF 1853 farthing is good regardless of what it is

[Peckris]

cant make out what on earth it is, definaly an over strike of some sorts, thought it was 5 over 3 last night but the shape on the top of the 5 sort of rins that, 5 over 5 perhaps, on the image as it was without zoom it even looks like 5 over 6 definalty not a 2

needless to say £4.95 + £1.30 postage for a aEF 1853 farthing is good regardless of what it is

I think it is possibly just a damaged numeral, or a damaged die (it doesn't have the characteristics of an overstrike). But it's a good price, even for an 1853.

[scott]

possibly but there is a curve off the curve of the 5, which seems odd.

[Colin G.]

possibly but there is a curve off the curve of the 5, which seems odd.

Scott,

That looks to me very much like the 5 over 5 where the curve of the 5 can be clearly seen. This is sometimes accompanied by the 3 also being over a 2, but the only tell tale sign will be the loop of the two extending past the top of the 3. If you have a look at my 1853 page you will see what I mean.

As for the mishape of the 5 without a closer/clearer image I would be inlcined to agree that it will be damage to the coin which in many cases can create the look of another digit, or an unexplainable feature.

If you can get a macro shot of the date, I may be able to confirm.

Edited October 9, 2009 by Colin G.

[scott]

i can try, but from that picture looking at the 3, there does seem to be something on there tailing ffrom the top of the 3, oince i get the coin in hand itself it will be easier

[1949threepence]

Even if there is no overstrike, it is still a superb coin for the price.

[scott]

k it arrived today, overstrike is obvious on the 5, got shots which i'll upload later, not easy to see anything with the naked eye around the 3 area so i'll post the reverse also as those brittannia a's look like V's but with repunches all over the place its hard to see

Edited October 14, 2009 by scott

[scott]

here you go some shots of both sides, obverse with natural and artificial light

[scott]

only 2 per post :/ here is the artifical light

[Coppers]

only 2 per post :/ here is the artifical light

Quite a difference between the photos using natural and artificial lighting. That's one nice farthing. Congratulations!

[scott]

yea i like it in the artifical light, sometimes that lighting makes coins look worse.

any thoughts on those A's and the date overstrike?

the artifical light does show the 5 overstrike pretty well can see the whole shape of the old 5

also might need a closer look at the F in FID.

Edited October 15, 2009 by scott

[Peckris]

scott, your "unknownfront" coin on Image Shack, is a Maria Theresa thaler, they've been continuously minted since 1741. In the Middle East until recently, certain States wouldn't trade in anything other than those as they knew exactly how much silver they contained. I bought a FDC proof at a coin fair a few years back, and it was pretty cheap. Beautiful coins though.

[scott]

yea i wasn't sure which mint etc it was, its one of the restrikes got that for £8 though, which is under the going rate

what about the farthing though, V's for A's?

[Colin G.]

Scott I am always a bit sceptical about the unbarred A's unless the coin is a crisp UNC on which there is no trace of the centre bar. On many farthings in circulated grades with even the slightest amount of dirt etc. the appearance of unbarred A's is given, however upon closer inspection traces can be found. These areas of the dies, must have filled quite quickly resulting in poor horizontal bars.

Without seeing the coin in hand and checking through a loop it will be impossible to tell, and even then it may be inconclusive. Not to say it isn't an interesting feature, but one that is difficult to confirm/dismiss.

[scott]

yea, its a bit odd, its had a fair few repunched letters, so hard to tell anything, the F in FID is an oddity, either way its a great coin

[scott]

just been looking up farthings on aboutfarthings.co.uk it seems to say something about a 5 over 5 on there

does the F in Fid look over T to you :/ hard to tell really

Edited October 20, 2009 by scott

[Peckris]

just been looking up farthings on aboutfarthings.co.uk it seems to say something about a 5 over 5 on there

does the F in Fid look over T to you :/ hard to tell really

It's hard to say, there's a little dirt in the letter. But, I'd say it COULD be - the left hand upper serif of the F is not simply a horizontal bar as it should be, it looks 'squared off' as if it was once a T.

[scott]

yea the dirt is the problem, never heard of a T there before so its hard to check out

so many repunches on here hard to tell what anything is B seems to have bottom serif missing

Edited October 21, 2009 by scott