1845 Farthing

[joey]

G'day all

Going through some farthings and found this 1845 with what looks like something under the right leg of the last A in GRATIA.There appears a higher base and an extension at the top left.When I first noticed it I thought it was just a doubling of the A,but looking closer it is only on the right side.Any ideas.

[Peckris]

G'day all

Going through some farthings and found this 1845 with what looks like something under the right leg of the last A in GRATIA.There appears a higher base and an extension at the top left.When I first noticed it I thought it was just a doubling of the A,but looking closer it is only on the right side.Any ideas.

It's not doubling - but it does look like a recut A, the underlying A being a bit higher and rotated a few degrees anti-clockwise. The top of the original A seems to be protruding, and the right hand serif as you've noticed, and the bulge bottom left looks suspicious too.

Recut letters are extremely common on the copper series, especially the farthings.

[joey]

G'day all

Going through some farthings and found this 1845 with what looks like something under the right leg of the last A in GRATIA.There appears a higher base and an extension at the top left.When I first noticed it I thought it was just a doubling of the A,but looking closer it is only on the right side.Any ideas.

It's not doubling - but it does look like a recut A, the underlying A being a bit higher and rotated a few degrees anti-clockwise. The top of the original A seems to be protruding, and the right hand serif as you've noticed, and the bulge bottom left looks suspicious too.

Recut letters are extremely common on the copper series, especially the farthings.

Thanks for that.As you said, it does seem a common occurrence.Here is another 1845 I have which is similar but not quite as pronounced.

[Peckris]

G'day all

Going through some farthings and found this 1845 with what looks like something under the right leg of the last A in GRATIA.There appears a higher base and an extension at the top left.When I first noticed it I thought it was just a doubling of the A,but looking closer it is only on the right side.Any ideas.

It's not doubling - but it does look like a recut A, the underlying A being a bit higher and rotated a few degrees anti-clockwise. The top of the original A seems to be protruding, and the right hand serif as you've noticed, and the bulge bottom left looks suspicious too.

Recut letters are extremely common on the copper series, especially the farthings.

Thanks for that.As you said, it does seem a common occurrence.Here is another 1845 I have which is similar but not quite as pronounced.

Yes, that looks convincing. I'm afraid I don't have an 1845 farthing (I'm a type collector these days) so I can't go and check mine.