What is this character?

I have a CD with a nearly-unscannable matrix runout. I finally got a nearly-readable scan, but there is a character that I can’t decide what it is. All the characters in the matrix are formed by dots. The character in question looks like this:
image

I can’t decide if that is a ‘1’ or an ‘l’ (lower-case L). I’m leaning toward a ‘1’. What do you think? The two strings in the runout (assuming it’s a ‘1’) are :

J-1032
1A1 73

1 Like

Cheap USB Microscope: LED Magnifier Microscopes Type-C Micro USB Digital Microscope Adjustable Stand | eBay

I just attach it to the standard Windows Camera app. Ideal for small stuff. Or even attach it to a phone.

I’d call the character a 1 as you have drawn it. Though can’t make any sense of the image due to it being mirror image.

1 Like

I use a jeweler’s loupe to see it close.

It isn’t mirrored. The string on the top side is just upside down.

I would decipher it as an upper-case L - a 1 would have no upward stroke at the end and I don’t think there were any lowercase letters here.

…and I don’t think, it’s a matter of size here. :slight_smile:

Pretty sure it’s a “1”. Compare with the OCR-A font:

Typeface_specimen_OCR_A

9 Likes

Okay, that’s pretty definitive for me. Thanks! Since it’s so hard to see on the scanned image, I’m going to put it in the comment on the image.

4 Likes