Die Varieties of the 1851 Penny

February 6, 2024

There are five die varieties for this coin consisting of four obverse dies paired with two reverse dies. For the obverse dies differences can be noted in the date along with the lettering in VICTORIA. For the reverse dies, one die has the first letter of STATES reworked along with a die crack in the O of OF .

1851 Penny
Obverse	Reverse

Obverse 1:
- The ones in the date have serifs.
- The eight in the date is repunched over a lower eight.
Obverse 2:
- The first digit in the date has been repunched.
- The eight in the date is repunched over a higher eight.
- The first I in VICTORIA is repunched.
- Striations are present.
Obverse 3:
- The first digit in the date has been repunched.
- The eight in the date is repunched over a left eight.
Obverse 4:
- The top of the ones in the date are flat.
- The eight in the date has been repunched.
- The second I in VICTORIA is repunched.

Reverse A:
- The first S in STATES has not been repunched.
- There is not a die crack through the O of OF.
Reverse B:
- The first S in STATES has been repunched.
- There is also a die crack through the O of OF.

For more close up images of this coin,
see under the microscope page.

Obverse Dies: The Date
The ones have serifs and the 8 is repunched over a low 8
The first digit is repunched and the 8 is repunched over a high 8
The first digit is repunched and the 8 is repunched over a left 8
The top of the ones are flat and the 8 has been repunched

Obverse Dies: VICTOR in VICTORIA
No repunched letters.
The first I in VICTORIA is repunched.

Obverse Dies: CTORIA in VICTORIA
No repunched letters.
The second I in VICTORIA is repunched.

Reverse Dies: The STA in STATES
Normal S.
Repunched S.

Reverse Dies: The OF
Normal O.
O with Die Crack.

Reverse Dies: The Fraction
Normal bar.

Return to Part Three: Thirteen Pence to a Shilling - Queen Victoria Copper Issues