1878 1/3 farthing new varieties?

Hussulo · September 28, 2009

I recently won this 1/3 farthing which will be an upgrade for my set:

Hussulo · September 28, 2009

It is a narrow or small date variety.

The two can be seen here:

I paid quite a bit over the guide prices but I really wanted it. Although on Collectors Coins GB 2009 no price is given it is just listed as scarcer.

The dates I've struggled the most to find in high grades are:

1835, 1866, 1868, 1876, 1878 and 1884.

When I saw that one I new I couldn't pass it up. It has to be one of the nicest if not the nicest example of an 1878 1/3 farthing in existence.

I've also noticed what could be a new variety. Opinions?

If you compare the two types on Colin's website and this:

I would say this one (my old example for 1878) has a large 7, the bottom of the 7 extends below the 8's.

Perhaps we could call it the large 7 variety?

Come to think of it the bottom of the seven on my new coin appears to be rounded where as the others have a flat bottom.

Another new variety, the rounded 7 perhaps?

Edited September 28, 2009 by Hussulo

Peckris · September 28, 2009

There appears to be several differences.

1. The THI on the new coin are at a strange angle to each other, on the old one they are in line

2. The H of THIRD has a low crossbar on the old coin, but halfway on the new

3. The 8's have small inners on the new, but larger on the old due to thinner loops

4. The new coin has a small compressed F in FARTHING, but it's larger and thinner on the old

5. The wreath of oak is bigger on the new coin and almost touches the border

I'm sure there could be more.

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