Date on grave - is this '8th', '9th' or another day ?

[SiGr]

Hi, Attached is an inscription from a grave in Cheshire. The first word is clearly 'August' and the year is '1799'. But I am uncertain on the day. I know the person was buried on the 12th. So, the day of death is likely the 8th or 9th. But the '9' in '1799' looks entirely different. Is this an '8' written as it often was in Registers - almost on its side like an infinity symbol ?  Or is it '2nd' - meaning over a week between death and burial ? Or another day ? And what is the superscript ? It does not look like 'th'. Any thoughts/comments welcome.

[Mike in Cumbria]

2?

[Gadget]

8 

[Pennines]

My initial reaction is 2.

[Erato]

9

[Pennines]

I don't think it is at all like the other 9s though.

[hallmark]

August 2^d : 1799

[Jessie Teresa Bryant]

My reaction was also a 2, but the carving/handwriting/font is diffrent IMHO... Could it maybe have been added at a different time?

Good luck!

(I am super new to all this it is just me adding my two cents, sorry if it is unhelpful)

[SiGr]

Thank you for all the comments so far - they are much appreciated.

The thing that bothers me most about the '2nd' is the time gap between that and the burial on the 12th. It seems very long given the year 1799 and the need to inter before decomposition.

Again, all comments welcome !