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COIN CLUB
1879 Sixpence B - 4 + C Obv. Tiny pin-head size metal flaw (indent) just behind Victoria's neck.
Otherwise choice Bright EF+-pAS
* Between 1871 and 1883 attempts were made to modernise the machinery sited at the Royal Mint
at Tower Hill. Lever presses were introduced to replace the ageing Bolton screw presses.
It has been suggested that to distinguish those coins struck with the newer 'Lever press', the die
number was omitted on purpose. This is possibly the 3rd year that the new machines were tested.
Coins with NO die number for this year are far easier to obtain than with die numbers as there are
2 obverse & 2 reverse dies available. A combination of 3 die pairings are known for the NO die
number sixpences; 4 + C; 4 + D & 5 + D where as for the die no dies only 4 + C is found.
4 + C is meant to be the scarcest die pairing with 4 + D the commonest (According to Davies) !?
However, this appears to be incorrect as I have found more 4 + C's than 4 + D or 5 + D's.
As this is the last year that die numbers were used it would appear that the new 'Lever presses'
were now up and running.
Sixpences without die numbers are know for 1871 (Rare) and 1877 (Normal to Scarce).
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