1940 UA and serial number oddity

Take a good look at the picture of the serial number on this bike. I believe 100% that it is original and I have noticed this on my 1940 OHV engines - I've got 3.

More specifically look at the '0'. The one in the year is different (fatter) than the one in the sequence.

What do you guys think.

Jerry

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2402145607

Jerry,
If anything,I don't like the initial "40". I currently have 5 1940's HD's, and none have a sharply pointed and elongated 4 like this one. It seems logical that someone may have stamped the year numbers to change the VIN. It would be interesting to know the crankcase numbers.

Jerry,
We dicussed some theories a while ago on this subject, the interesting one being the sequence being stamped at a later date than the year or model, and by different fellows with a different set of stamps. Same theory on the bottom numbers looking totally different that the boss numbers. I think these cases illustrate it well. FatDog

CrazyEddie - 1941 is the last full year of that 4. They change in 1942 to an open top 4. I believe it is original as that texture behind the numbers is almost impossible to duplicate.

Jerry