1970 Halfpenny - 3 or 4 varieties?

[Mikeywikey]

I was wondering if anybody has bothered to identify if there are three or four varieties of the 1970 halfpenny? Freeman identified the two varieties of width of ship (some miniscule difference, I wouldn't even count it!), but there's the later discovered wide and narrow rim obverse varieties which are an easy spot, so (in theory) could be four (my guess three), also any idea on numbers? I'm assuming that the narrow rim came later for Freeman to miss something so different, and I've only found three narrow rims so I'm guessing a ratio in the order of at least 1:10 (but less than 1:100)

[Peckris]

I was wondering if anybody has bothered to identify if there are three or four varieties of the 1970 halfpenny? Freeman identified the two varieties of width of ship (some miniscule difference, I wouldn't even count it!), but there's the later discovered wide and narrow rim obverse varieties which are an easy spot, so (in theory) could be four (my guess three), also any idea on numbers? I'm assuming that the narrow rim came later for Freeman to miss something so different, and I've only found three narrow rims so I'm guessing a ratio in the order of at least 1:10 (but less than 1:100)

I wonder. On the currency pieces (1967), the wide rim came later - in 1968 - so I'd expect something similar on the 1970s. On the other hand, it may be that left-over currency wide rim dies were polished up for use in the 1970 sets, which didn't get produced until a few years after 1970. The London Mint was responsible for both, so who knows?

[Rob]

I was wondering if anybody has bothered to identify if there are three or four varieties of the 1970 halfpenny? Freeman identified the two varieties of width of ship (some miniscule difference, I wouldn't even count it!), but there's the later discovered wide and narrow rim obverse varieties which are an easy spot, so (in theory) could be four (my guess three), also any idea on numbers? I'm assuming that the narrow rim came later for Freeman to miss something so different, and I've only found three narrow rims so I'm guessing a ratio in the order of at least 1:10 (but less than 1:100)

I wonder. On the currency pieces (1967), the wide rim came later - in 1968 - so I'd expect something similar on the 1970s. On the other hand, it may be that left-over currency wide rim dies were polished up for use in the 1970 sets, which didn't get produced until a few years after 1970. The London Mint was responsible for both, so who knows?

I concur up to a point. If the narrow rim was an emergency use of an old obverse die, then these would be the last issued.

The only one I've never had is the 3+K. If the above is true, then K should be the earlier die for 1970.

Edited April 2, 2012 by Rob

[Mikeywikey]

I was wondering if anybody has bothered to identify if there are three or four varieties of the 1970 halfpenny? Freeman identified the two varieties of width of ship (some miniscule difference, I wouldn't even count it!), but there's the later discovered wide and narrow rim obverse varieties which are an easy spot, so (in theory) could be four (my guess three), also any idea on numbers? I'm assuming that the narrow rim came later for Freeman to miss something so different, and I've only found three narrow rims so I'm guessing a ratio in the order of at least 1:10 (but less than 1:100)

I wonder. On the currency pieces (1967), the wide rim came later - in 1968 - so I'd expect something similar on the 1970s. On the other hand, it may be that left-over currency wide rim dies were polished up for use in the 1970 sets, which didn't get produced until a few years after 1970. The London Mint was responsible for both, so who knows?

I concur up to a point. If the narrow rim was an emergency use of an old obverse die, then these would be the last issued.

The only one I've never had is the 3+K. If the above is true, then K should be the earlier die for 1970.

Sounds reasonable, I'm guessing that an earlier 1960's narrow rim proof die was used inadvertantly (it appears identical to my 1960 proof) rather than the "correct" 1970 wide rim proof die or a polished 1968 (assuming it went wide in 1968) I've not seen any 1968 proofs so I don't know if they would have used narrow or wide.

[Peckris]

I was wondering if anybody has bothered to identify if there are three or four varieties of the 1970 halfpenny? Freeman identified the two varieties of width of ship (some miniscule difference, I wouldn't even count it!), but there's the later discovered wide and narrow rim obverse varieties which are an easy spot, so (in theory) could be four (my guess three), also any idea on numbers? I'm assuming that the narrow rim came later for Freeman to miss something so different, and I've only found three narrow rims so I'm guessing a ratio in the order of at least 1:10 (but less than 1:100)

I wonder. On the currency pieces (1967), the wide rim came later - in 1968 - so I'd expect something similar on the 1970s. On the other hand, it may be that left-over currency wide rim dies were polished up for use in the 1970 sets, which didn't get produced until a few years after 1970. The London Mint was responsible for both, so who knows?

I concur up to a point. If the narrow rim was an emergency use of an old obverse die, then these would be the last issued.

The only one I've never had is the 3+K. If the above is true, then K should be the earlier die for 1970.

Sounds reasonable, I'm guessing that an earlier 1960's narrow rim proof die was used inadvertantly (it appears identical to my 1960 proof) rather than the "correct" 1970 wide rim proof die or a polished 1968 (assuming it went wide in 1968) I've not seen any 1968 proofs so I don't know if they would have used narrow or wide.

Yes, that's right. The 1967 'wide rims' appeared in 1968, and the denomination was demonetised in 1969. However, it's worth pointing out that the 'wide rim' first made an appearance in 1956, as a one-year (scarce) variation.

[Gary D]

I was wondering if anybody has bothered to identify if there are three or four varieties of the 1970 halfpenny? Freeman identified the two varieties of width of ship (some miniscule difference, I wouldn't even count it!), but there's the later discovered wide and narrow rim obverse varieties which are an easy spot, so (in theory) could be four (my guess three), also any idea on numbers? I'm assuming that the narrow rim came later for Freeman to miss something so different, and I've only found three narrow rims so I'm guessing a ratio in the order of at least 1:10 (but less than 1:100)

I believe I have all 4.

[Peckris]

I think the two rim widths make an interesting variety. Minute differences in width of the ship would just send me right off to sleep.