Overstamping Dates

[pies]

Been puzzling me for a while why did they bother to overstamp dates

[Colin G.]

Been puzzling me for a while why did they bother to overstamp dates

Are you taking about re-cutting a datal figure with a new figure or re-cutting a date with the same digit?

For example an 1865/2 farthing was the re-use of 1862 dies by re-cutting the 2 with a 5. It just allowed unused working/master dies to be re-utilised. There are several different dies used for the 1865/2 farthings, so they were recycling multiple dies at that time.

Re-cutting of the same digit is normally done when a die becomes clogged or damaged, and therefore that particular area of the design is re-cut to strengthen the design.

[Gary]

Been puzzling me for a while why did they bother to overstamp dates

They did not "overstamp" existing coins but cut a new date into dies that were still good from previous years. In most cases the last digit of the date was altered as is the case of the 1865 over 3 penny, 1858 over 7 and so on. Dies were very costly to produce so this helped to keep costs down.

Many Dies became damaged and letters and numbers were recut to increase the life of the Die.

Another reason is a mistake when preparing a new Die ie the 1862 Penny where the 6 has been recut over an 8 which has been incorrectly cut during Die preparation..

I am sure there are other members on here who are more in the know when it comes to Die making.

[Gary D]

Been puzzling me for a while why did they bother to overstamp dates

They did not "overstamp" existing coins but cut a new date into dies that were still good from previous years. In most cases the last digit of the date was altered as is the case of the 1865 over 3 penny, 1858 over 7 and so on. Dies were very costly to produce so this helped to keep costs down.

Many Dies became damaged and letters and numbers were recut to increase the life of the Die.

Another reason is a mistake when preparing a new Die ie the 1862 Penny where the 6 has been recut over an 8 which has been incorrectly cut during Die preparation..

I am sure there are other members on here who are more in the know when it comes to Die making.

I think Debbie's point was, why bother, just mint some of the old date. At the end of the day does it really matter that the date changed every year.

Edited January 23, 2013 by Gary D

[declanwmagee]

I think Debbie's point was, why bother, just mint some of the old date. At the end of the day does it really matter that the date changed every year.

And it's a good point, when we know for sure that the number of coins minted in a year, and the number of coins minted with that year's date on it, are rarely, if ever, the same.

The contract that the Mint received was presumably "make us this number of farthings", not "make us this number of 1865 farthings". I can't see the Treasury complaining if they were all dated 1862.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to get some visibility of the decision making process at that level - why change the number of berries, or the number of leaves? If there's anything really missing from the literature, it's the WHY of varieties, rather than the WHAT.