ID Help For 2c Washington, A140

I am trying to ID a 2c Washington. It is a very clear printing, so the charateristics can be easily seen with proper light and magnification.

I think I have narrowed it down to either 527 (Type V) or 528B (Type VII). I can definitely distinguish 3 vertical lines of shading dots beneath the nose, which would seem to confirm it as a Type VII. However, I cannot find "...numerous additional dots..." (Scott's description) on the top of the head needed to resemble Scott's illustration for type VII. The hair on the head looks like Scott's illustration shown for type Va. The shading line in the left numeral 2 is very thin, but it has no breaks. All other characteristics would fit either a type V or a type VII.

I know a scan would be a big help, but I haven't gotten my scanner figured out yet. If my descriptions are accurate, what do you think??

BTW, I bought it as a 528A, but nobody would call the line in the left numeral 2 anything but very thin.

Need an image to work with.

I would say it is a 528b. It looks like one of the dots on the nose is faint but there. The type V has four and the type VII has 6. The other dots in the head-hairline don't present themselves. However I've seen numerous examples of what I call hybrids that lack this feature. The criteria for determining the types are:

1-dots on nose
2-line in left 2
3-toga belt & button
4-additional dots on chin
5-additional dots on side & below sideburns
6-additional dots on forehead

It is usually as you get down the list some of the additional features can be non apparent. When collectors are putting together their example they will search for examples that display all features clearly. Sometimes that is hard to do. Each die is unique in some small way. Also die wear will play a role. The offset printings had numerous problems and the printing quality was one of the determining factors in why it was used for a short time.
Your example is very nice. It is up to you to decide if the lack of additional dots makes that much of difference to you.

Thanks 1847bill

I was leaning toward 528B, but the lack of extra dots on top of the head concerned me. Your post gives me a better perspective inasmuch as some characteristics don't always present themselves. I suppose the lack of a feature could be a printing deficiency, but if the feature IS present, it had to come from the die.

In your criteria list, you didn't mention the dots on the upper lip. I thought the presence of 3 vertical rows of dots there would be one of the strongest indicators for type VII, 528B.

If I can convince myself that I have ID'd the stamp correctly, I am not too concerned if all of the specific features don't stand out clearly. I just want a stamp that is a clean copy, and I agree with you that this one is. I don't think I will go back on the seller who presented the stamp as 528A because I also need a 528B, and it was probably an honest mistake. The price I paid I think is fair for this stamp but would have been a better bargain if it had been 528A.

I was rattling off the defining details using the power of my brain. That is a dangerous thing to do. The outcome is still the same. I've noticed the offsets have what I call "hybrid" features that confuse people. Rotary have them as well. Even some of the early flat plate 2 cent Washingtons have good toga lines and buttons but are still type I. You have to have enough defining features to rule out all of the others.

This is true. I have seen many stamps that have characteristics of more than one type. The more things there are to look for for particular types, the better.


-IBFS