Variety of the Month – 1899’s

I hadn’t thought that much about 1899’s until several of us were working on the large cent variety section in the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 65^th edition, 2011.  All the cool action for this date is on the reverse, and all of it is associated with the final 9 in the date.  Three 9/9 over-punches can be easily seen with a 10 x loupe.  Two are dramatic and the third more subtle.  All are collectable and considered reasonably scarce but not rare.  Expect to pay a modest premium, perhaps up to double trends, when you find them in stock from knowledgeable seller.

The first 9/9 shows evidence at the bottom left and is the remnant of at least two previous attempts at placing the 9 before finally settling on its original position.  This is the most dramatic offset of the three different examples of 9/9 for this date.

The second 9/9 shows evidence directly below the 9.  This is a single re-punch.

Finally the third more subtle 9/9 shows on the right at the bottom.  This is clearly the least amount of offset for the 9/9.

In addition to these, the font style of the final 9 can be different as well.  The final 9 can be much thinner, shaped a bit different and generally more delicate than the first 9 in the date.  This one is fairly common. This I’ll let you discover on your own, the others are pictured below.  

These original photographs were first published in A Charlton Standard Catalogue, Canadian Coins, Volume One, Numismatic Issues 2011, 65th Edition., W. K. Cross editor, and are published here with permission.

Happy Hunting!

Figure 1: 9/9 shows below to the left.

Figure 2: The 9/9 shows directly below with a nice offset

Figure 3: The 9/9 shows modestly at the bottom right.