1870 Halfpennies

[Gary 7]

I seem to remember reading or seeing somewhere of the mention, that for the 1870 halfpenny there are in fact narrow and wide date varieties. Can anyone confirm this? I am not talking of just the 0 being miss punched rather all date numerals being closer or wider apart.

Cheers, Gary

[RLC35 288]

Gary,

I check Freeman and Peck, and neither had a reference to wide and narrow dates. The one I have in my set does seem to be a quite wide date, but I don't have a duplicate to compare it too.

Bob C.

[Bronze & Copper Collector 413]

According to Iain Dracott's definitive article on Victorian Bunhead HalfPennies.... He mentions for 1870, 1871, and 1873, that "some have wider dates"........

[Gary 7]

Thanks Bob, Thanks B&CC, for the info. On further study it seems that just the last two digits are more widely spaced. As you say Dracott (have now dug the article out), mentions this occurence for other early 70`s halfpenny. Could it be assumed that a large quantity of 70`s Die was produced with just the 18 being punched and the other two digits being entered as and when needed?

Cheers Gary