Scott 494 Ty II Coil Reddish Violet?

So has most Ty II characteristics but the top line of toga is thin and broken and rope shading is not complete. Also the color is not the dull violet or gray violet. type I comes in reddish violet

I think this is another thread which frequently gets the request to post a scan of the entire cover, front and back. Can you add those?

These 3 cent Washington/Franklins are not very color-stable, so ignore the color and rely on the design.

And yes, to echo Partime, show us everything. The cancel date can often help eliminate or confirm some of the possibilities.

here is full cover image

this date will not eliminate any of the coil options.

Sorry perf 10 vertical, 19.5mm x 22mm

Al E. Gator this is a 3 cent stamp not a 2 cent. So that is not an option.

You'd think I'd know my numbers 1-2-3.... by now. Just had 2 on my mind. Apologies, deleted my reply.

No worries!

Type II. Faded or chemically affected.

Being on the cover and the cancelation date is 1919 which is a clue to it being a type II not a cut and dry conclusion. A tell tale sign to identify the difference between type I and type II is to look at the heavy line between the lips which your stamp has making it a #494.

It is also a changling from either chemicals, fugitive ink possible but not likely, exposure to sunlight, acid from the users saliva, acid from the envelope or the ink from the stamp itself etc... however its anyones guess at this point after all it was used 114 years ago tomorrow based on the cancel that is on the cover which your stamp is affixed to. My detective work is done here and that is my opinion.

Jeremy

I agree like I said it has many of the ty II characteristics; the hair lines in the lock of hair, the thicker lips, the recut toga button. but it doesn"t have the strong shading lines or solid shading lines in rope and the top of rope is weak and broken. It is odd that the toga button outline is strengthened but the rest of the toga top is weak, which are the key characteristics of a tyII.

The diagonal lines of the toga rope are complete. That makes it a Type II. The other characteristics might easily be weaker simply because of plate wear, or a slightly less complete job of re-entering. Plus Type II was issued in 1917, so there was plenty of time for it to have been used here.

yes I went on ebay and looked at several 494s and mine was sharper and had heavier lines than some. but the color didn't match but I know it can be a changling.

it seems to me every stmap that is red or a purple-orange is a crapshoot to try to use the color.

Often but not always. The 482A can almost always be called bad if it's not the correct shade. The correct shade is not a guarantee, of course.