1857 Great Britain Penny

[Prosit]

I was lucky enough to add this coin to my collection, Thanks entirely to Andyg.
Very pretty.

How do you tell a large date from a small date?

Dale

[Figleaf]

The site of our member Tony Clayton reports two varieties: a) close colon with plain trident b) far colon with ornamental trident. Yours is the latter variety (excellent illustrations of these details on the site). It says nothing about the size of the date.

Peter

[mrbadexample]

Other way round Peter. This is a close colon, plain trident, and (I'm reasonably sure) large date.

Attached pictures show: Far colon (this on an 1847), plain trident (1854), and ornamental trident (also 1854).

Link to large date:
http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?page=Pastresults&auc=153&searchlot=3155&searchtype=2

Link to small date:
http://www.londoncoins.co.uk/?page=Pastresults&auc=146&searchlot=2657&searchtype=2

The small date has a taller, narrower 7.

[andyg]

Not that it helps much but the date varieties only occur with the close colon...

I think Mrbadexample has this sorted.

I've always liked the high relief on the portraits on these.

[Figleaf]

Sorry for confusion and thanks for enlargements. I never noticed that Britannia has four toes...

Peter

[Prosit]

Thanks! I agree it looks like the large date example. I was just curious as such fine details matter little to me but I do like to identify them when possible. It is a very nice coin I am quite happy with.

Dale

[mrbadexample]

I have since found out that the long 7 is not necessarily the indicator for a narrow date, as there were also short 7s. A wide date spans 11 border teeth, the narrow date spans 9.5 border teeth. So yours is, indeed, a wide date. 

[mrbadexample]

Michael Gouby's website shows it all: http://www.michael-coins.co.uk/1857_copper_penny.htm

Would guess from the picture that yours may be type A, Dale.

[Prosit]

I think it is "A" as well.
here is the detail on my coin.

Dale

[andyg]

something odd going on with the date there - 8 over 5?  certainly 5 over 5 too....

[Prosit]

It looks like that in hand too. I can't get a better image though.
Looks like some slight doubling on all the date.
Dale

something odd going on with the date there - 8 over 5?  certainly 5 over 5 too....