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Confusing 1864 Nova Scotia Half Cent

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Author Replies: 4 / Views: 177Next Topic  
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Canada
2 Posts
 Posted 09/24/2026  8:58 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Ttyler to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I recently posted purchased this 1864 Nova Scotia Half Cent, the Half Cent itself is quite perplexing. There are obvious signs of three die clashes (die clashes are somewhat of a common occurrence on these Nova Scotia cents), and the die breaks throughout the obverse. What has me perplexed is that is happening to the lettering of the coin on the reverse and obverse? I feel like there is much more to this coin than I understand. Any additional insight would be lovely. Thanks for your time.
Confusing-1864-Nova-Scotia-Half-Cent
Confusing-1864-Nova-Scotia-Half-Cent
Edited by Ttyler
09/24/2026 9:02 pm
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Errers and Varietys's Avatar
United States
79052 Posts
 Posted 09/24/2026  11:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Errers and Varietys to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
To CCF! I see a Die Clash, Die Cracks and Machine Doubling on your coin.
Errers and Varietys.
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MintedNotPrinted's Avatar
United States
1722 Posts
 Posted Yesterday   09:05 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add MintedNotPrinted to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply


I agree with Errers. The additional deformation of the lettering in Cent and Nova Scotia looks to me to be caused by the clashed portrait. Britt: looks to be Die Deterioration, and that die was certainly in rough shape!

Very nice Half Cent!

(Edited for specificity)
Edited by MintedNotPrinted
Yesterday 09:13 am
New Member
Canada
18 Posts
 Posted Today  1H 1M ago  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add rjd1402 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
If you had shown me just the reverse of this coin, I would have bet a pretty penny that the obverse would exhibit obvious die breaks; I would not have lost that bet. A die study for this coin and and many others is pending at ClassicCanadianNumismatics.substack.com. There are numerous other die studies and other interesting articles currently available.
This coin exemplifies the numerous problems that could be confronted in the coin production process. 1. The press operator(s) was/were obviously having some issues, resulting in die clashing. The lever press was not being used yet by The Royal Mint in 1864. I imagine the operator cringed a bit when this occurred as it would have been very hard on the dies. 2. It looks like the punches used to sink these dies were deteriorating too. The broken border line on both sides is a dead giveaway. On some dies this border was re-engraved as shown in this partial reverse image.

Confusing-1864-Nova-Scotia-Half-Cent

I discuss this in my 1872 Newfoundland Large Cent Die Study. Additionally, notice the broken letters CE in CENT on the reverse; further indication of a deteriorating punch. NOVA SCOTIA didn't transfer too well either. Looks like the A in NOVA was repunched.

An outstanding coin BTW. May I please use these images in my study? RD
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Canada
2 Posts
 Posted Today  28M ago  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Ttyler to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I appreciate all the replies everyone! I do really enjoy learning about errors and other bits of history regarding this and other coins.

@rjd1402, Feel free to use this coin in your studies; however, the images I posted are not my own, rather they are the images from where I purchased this coin. I could attempt to provide some images as well if that is an issue. Let me know.
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