Gouby Date Widths
Although I don’t attempt to list and describe the numerous variations of date width that exist throughout the range of Victorian pennies and are recorded and illustrated comprehensively by Michael Gouby in his specialist book on Victorian pennies, I think it is important to understand Michael’s methodology in determining these date widths.
Michael defines the date width as the number of teeth (rounded to a half tooth) between the base of the initial date figure 1 to a point below the final date figure. This end point varies according to the particular number, as follows:
0 – directly below the lowest part of the number
1 – directly below the upright limb
2 – directly below the front of the horizontal base
3 – directly below the leftmost end of the lower curl
4 – directly below the upright limb
5 – directly below the leftmost part of the curl
6 – directly below the lowest part of the number (as for 0)
7 – directly below the bottom of the slanting “tail”
8 – directly below the lowest part of the number (as for 0)
9 – directly below the bottom of the “tail”
Start Point – if the upright limb of the 1 is over a tooth, this tooth is effectively tooth 1; if
the upright limb of the 1 is over a gap, the next tooth to the right is effectively tooth 1.5
End Point – if the end point as defined above is over a tooth, this counts as a whole tooth (i.e. an integer); if it is over a gap, this counts as a half tooth (i.e. 0.5).
An example is shown below (1893 – 13.5 teeth):
Picture courtesy of Michael Gouby
In the same way, the example below shows the initial 1 over a gap (1861 – 12.5 teeth)
Further examples are shown on the following extract from Michael’s book:
pennyvarieties 