1862 one penny with some numbers below lighthouse?

[Voynov_BG 3]

Hi all

And sorry for my English!

A few days ago received small lot of low grade one penny coins:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VICTORIA-9-ONE-PENNY-COINS-/162550085082?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=bav5dBg3kMbkfo8pUfZNSrDDbNY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

The top left coin is corroded but there are some numbers below lighthouse - or maybe just derision from corrosion. I see number "33" but the first "3" is very corroded and incuse (touches the inner circle), the second "3" is very clear. Any opinions or maybe it's just a delusion from the corrosion and design of the coin? Thank you.

[Voynov_BG 3]

[Voynov_BG 3]

[1949threepence 3,368]

Interesting - it does look like 33, in the style of three used on the 1863 pennies. The fact there's two (apparently) consecutive numbers makes it less likely to be pareidolia. But of course, if there is a number there, it may well have been added after the coin left the mint. Many such unofficial additions were made to pennies in that era. 

Might be worth referring to the Royal MInt for an opinion. 

 

 

  

Edited July 3, 2017 by 1949threepence

[PWA 1967 2,269]

If you do send it to the mint as they wont tell you from a picture be prepared for about a six / eight month reply.

They will notify you straight away of them receiving it but only telling you to be prepared to wait.

I was told by them a week or so ago they get dozens of decimal coins sent to them but they were kind enough to transfer me to a couple of people so i was able to mail to the right person.

Only mention it as not just a couple of week turnaround 

[jelida 1,377]

I find it difficult to reach any conclusion from the photographs but I would point out that any digits present would have been stamped on the coin, not the die, or they would be in relief i.e. raised on the coin. It would be technically challenging to prepare a set of dies that struck an incuse image if the intention was a one-off or limited production run. The overwhelming likelihood therefore is that these digits, if any, are post mint interventions, and of little numismatic interest.

Jerry

[secret santa 2,385]

Just a bit of corrosion in my opinion - rather like the face of Jesus which often appears on a slice of toast.

[Voynov_BG 3]

Thanks for all posts! I'm not familiar with all the variants of this coin, I do not have much literature, but I see one more hand stamp - an oval hand stamp above the number 33 - shown in the next two pictures. This looks like an oval stamp that contains three digits or other symbols, but the last digit looks like a thick and short 1 Arabic number. Maybe it's just fantasy though, but it looks like it under a magnifying glass view

 

[Voynov_BG 3]

2nd picture:

[VickySilver 885]

Wow, good looking out. I tend to agree with Richard that from photos the numerals appear artefactual though.

[Voynov_BG 3]

Yes, I have often encountered hand stamps on this type of coins - post mint damage, the only unusual thing here is that they are of a tiny size - the upper mark is less than half millimeter high (half millimeter!), and each "3" below is about 1 millimeter wide . You must have a very miniature instrument to make them. Just thinking that this is not the usual size numbers or letters on this type coins, and they can not be seen with the naked eye.