1899 Newfoundland 20 Cents

1899 Letter "T" (In the word "CENTS")

The Letter "T" (in the word "CENTS") is a very important and interesting feature of the 1899 NFLD 20 Cent coinage. It appears that the Letter "T", of these individual varieties, has it own unique characteristic. Moving from one variation to another, they form a distinctive pattern which can be used to help identify a specific variety! Interestingly, the Right Foot (Serif) of each Letter "T", differs between these variations. Beginning with the Large "99" variety, which has the Longest Right Foot, the lenght of the Foot becomes progressively Shorter as it moves through to the Small "99" and finally to the Hook "99" variations. Similarly, the Left Hand also forms a pattern but it is less distinctive throughout the Small "99" variations. In this case, the TYPE I (a) - Large "99", has a small truncated hand, whereas, with the TYPE I (b) - Large "99", the hand is small but complete. However, a problem occurs throughout the TYPE I (a & b) - Small "99" varieties because of the apparent weakness in these strikings. In both of these situations, the Left Hand can only be described as "Undefined". Finally, with the TYPE III - Hook "99" variety, it appears that the "T" had been Re-Engraved making both of these Serifs (the Hands) the same size.