This problem seems to come from deep evil in certain package rules. Take the libgcc1 example: the debian/control file for gcc-4.1 has no epoch. Yet, it enforces one later for the binary packages:
dh_gencontrol -p$(p_lgcc) \ -- -v$(DEB_LIBGCC_VERSION) $(common_substvars) -- strips off epochs https://launchpad.net/bugs/92747 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs