Overdate Question 1737, 3 Over 5.

[Garrett]

Hi everyone

I bought a 1737 3 over 5 overdate in the latest Noble auction.

I know a little about overdates, e.g. if a 1857 die gets used the next year (1858) the 8 will be over the remains of the 7.

How does a 1737, 3 over 5 come about ? Did the person cutting the die make a mistake with the 5 then put the 3 over it ?

Can anyone enlighten me ?

cheers

Garrett.

[copper123]

Exactly- not all mint engravers were totally literate or paid much attention to their job , all the time , little mistakes are made - this reached dizzy hights in the reign of william III but got better slowly over time and came to a stop around Edwardian times

[Peckris]

Exactly- not all mint engravers were totally literate or paid much attention to their job , all the time , little mistakes are made - this reached dizzy hights in the reign of william III but got better slowly over time and came to a stop around Edwardian times

And too, in the lettering style of the day, a punch with a very small 5 and one with a very small 3 would have looked rather similar.

[Rob]

In the earlier periods it was quite normal to make a composite digit or letter from a series of smaller punches. This could also lead to odd shapes. e.g. Go to the confirmed unlisted varieties section and look at the 1675/3/2 halfpenny. The 2 was normal, but the 3 & 5 were made up from odd curves.

[Garrett]

Thanks for the information everyone, great stuff !!