Belgium 5c overdates: 1905/4 and 1906/5

[KurtS]

Here are two overdates I found today. They're not scarce, but interesting all the same.



Btw, my fancy Nikon camera is broken, so I shot these with a cheapo Canon SD790IS in macro mode (hand-held too). Not too shabby for a $150 camera.

[Dick]

Those look real nice, "cheapie camera", or not. The top is very likely a 6/5. At first I thought it might be a 6/7, but then i asked, why a "6/7"?
The second one looks like MD/struck thru! It doesn't make sense, but that is what It looks like to me. I thought first it might be a 1905 over a die crack, but that makes even less sense! Nice pictures, Kurt! It is nice to see you doing what you like to do best, again
Dick

[KurtS]

Dick, I was going to comment on the MD, but I thought it would be distracting
After viewing from several lighting angles, I'm going sound confident and say that's a 5/4. There are remnants of the vertical to the 4 too. And, a 1905/4 is listed for this date in Krause.

[GarryN]

I dont know, if that is a 4, it would be an odd looking 4. It looks like a die crack to me. We need some pics of a verified 1905/4 or a 1904.

[KurtS]

This diagonal would be odd for a crack too...I wondered about a die gouge, but then saw something inside the 5 that could be part of the 4. What I've noted about many overdates is how the underlying digits are often reduced to thin marks. This probably has to do with how the first date was impressed, and what remained after polishing--it's never predictable. Here's another 5/4 from a Swedish coin. Here of course, the serif left from the 4 is a big clue.



For the Belgium 5c, the 1905/4 is just as common (ie cheap) as the 1905, so I doubt I'll find something on Heritage to compare If I can find a 1904 5c, I'll do an overlay sometime.

Ok, just another example of how often little survives when a die is polished/repunched. This is a Mexico 1c 1927/6:

[GarryN]

The date on the Swedish coin looks like a 4.

[Dick]

Looking at the 1905/4, it sure looks like the small croslet on the four, plus th diagonal line, could very well be a good call.
Dick

[KurtS]

Dick,
Yeah...if it were just that diagonal mark alone w/o that lower corner and the other details...yeah, I'd say that's a die gouge. It's the corner and other details that push me towards an overdate. But that's really just my hunch

[Dick]

Kurt, I guess we will have to accept what is visible. At least, I was able to see the remnants of the little crosslet, that made it pretty cleat, that a 4 had been there, at some time. so....
Dici

[KurtS]

Yes, and what makes this a good forum is how things are always open for discussion--and collectively we'll come to conclusions by what makes the most sense. Versus simply referring to a single reference as the ultimate guide*, and not discussing/learning something new--if you get my drift, A little controversy makes the hobby interesting.

*I'm not talking about this forum, but somewhere else. People here are great.

[Dick]

Kurt, I thought the place you refer to was very prompt in their responses! I posted a question there in 2008, and got a reply nearly 6 onths later. Now that was Dast! Some haven't answered, yet.
Kist kidding, enen if it it true.
Thid forum is the most sincere, and helpful one, thsat i have found yet. I have been to many, both einglish, as well as french speaking, and this one is always friendly. I know of others, that i quit going to, because of the attitude of some. I don't see any justification, to call someone a liar, or fefer to their ancestry, but it happens. Or the "know-it-all", that when presented the facts by several embers, still insists, that they are wrong. We have been fortunate in that respect. If one of these types joins, it doesn't take long to see thru them, and they get their friendly warning. If the crap continues, we continue, but without them!

[Dick]

Kurt, I thought the place you refer to was very prompt in their responses! I posted a question there in 2008, and got a reply nearly 6 months later. Now that was fast! Some haven't answered, yet.
Kist kidding, even if it is true.
This forum is the most sincere, and helpful one, that I have found yet. I have been to many, both english, as well as french speaking, and this one is always friendly. I know of others, that I quit going to, because of the attitude of some. I don't see any justification, to call someone a liar, or refer to their ancestry, but it happens. Or the "know-it-all", that when presented the facts by several embers, still insists, that they are wrong. We have been fortunate in that respect. If one of these types joins, it doesn't take long to see thru them, and they get their friendly warning. If the crap continues, we continue, but without them!