Scarce Pennies
There are several penny varieties that, when first discovered, appeared to be rare but, as collectors began to find more and more examples, they became what I would term as scarce rather than rare, with probably more than 50 existing examples, i.e. Freeman’s R16 (51-100 specimens). Together with known scarcities, they are hard to find and will attract a significant premium over more common coins.
I have decided to list some of these scarce varieties here, illustrated with just a single example to aid collectors in identifying these coins.
1844 P1487 [1+A] – Bramah 4a variety (DFF)
The bottom leg of E in DEF is virtually missing – appears as DFF (although a trace of the leg remains), presumably as a result of a partially filled die.
Very scarce in high grades
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1854 P1507 [1+A] O.T. – Bramah 17a (missing colon dots)
Note: All colon dots are missing from the reverse
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1861 F18 (Gouby D+d; Freeman 2+D) [rarity R13 – surely rarer ?]
Freeman recorded this scarce die-pairing as R13 but it is considerably scarcer than that and very hard to find in high grades
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1861 F20 (Gouby D+g; Freeman 2+G) [rarity R12]
Like F18, this variety is very hard to find in high grades
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1861 F25 (Gouby F+g; Freeman 4+G) [rarity R12]
Another die-pairing that’s rare in high grades
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1863 BP1863B (Gouby J+g; Freeman 6+G) – Open 3
Note: the bottom, curved area of the date numeral 3 is more open
Normal 3 Open 3
This variety is very rare in high grades
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1874H F69 (Gouby J+h; Freeman 6+I)
This very rare reverse was only used on coins minted in 1874 by Ralph Heaton (H below date) and is distinguished by the widely spaced date numerals with the sea on the left not crossing the linear circle.
It is sometimes difficult to differentiate between reverses g and h on worn 1874H wide date pennies but, because the border tooth count differs on the two reverses (g has 138 teeth and reverse h has 136 teeth) the relative positions of the legend characters to border teeth varies between the two reverses. This is exemplified by the position of the Y in PENNY as can be seen below:
Reverse g – the Y spans 2 complete border teeth |
Reverse h – the Y spans 3 complete border teeth |
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1874 F77 (Gouby L+g; Freeman 8+G) [rarity R14]
Note: Obverse L – tie ribbons thicker and almost touch at the bend; 136 border teeth
Another variety almost never seen in lustrous condition
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1875 F79 (Gouby L+g; Freeman 8+G) [rarity R13 – almost certainly rarer]
Very rare in lustrous grades
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1879 F98 (Gouby M+m; Freeman 9+K) [rarity R13 – almost certainly rarer]
1879 narrow date – very difficult to find in a lustrous state
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1881 F106 (Gouby P+k; Freeman 11+J) [rarity R14]
Very rare in lustrous grades
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1898 BP1898B (Obverse Gouby V+w; Freeman 1+B – different 8s)
The date numeral 8s are in different fonts – rare in high grades
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1896 F143 (Gouby V+w); Freeman 1+B) – missing full stop in T.B.
The full stop after T in the designer’s initials T.B. (Thomas Brock) below the queen’s bust is missing, presumably from a filled die. This has so far only been found on pennies dated 1896 (with close date figures) and 1897.
Normal initials |
Missing full stop after T |
The first recording of this type that I have seen was in London Coins auction of June 2014 but inspection of other coins sold since suggest that it is probably scarce rather than rare.
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1903 F158A (Gouby A+b; Freeman 1+B) – Open 3
The date numeral 3 on the reverse is more open at the base – extremely rare in high grades.
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1908 F164A (Gouby B+c; Freeman 1*+C) [rarity R5 – surely rarer ?]
The only penny to have this obverse
The easiest way to distinguish between the 3 obverses
The T of BRITT gets closer to the O of OMN as the obverses progress
Obverse A |
Obverse B | Obverse C |
(Freeman 1) |
(Freeman 1*) |
(Freeman 2) |
colon dots to gap | colon dots to tooth |
colon dots to gap |
Incredibly rare in grades over VF
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1911 BP1911B – Hollow Neck (Gouby X+a)
Note: Unique Obverse X – I of BRITT points directly to a border tooth (known as the “Hollow Neck” variety); 180 border teeth
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