Anyone have a Lincoln Memorial cent pattern sitting around?

RogerB

This letter is one of several referring to designs and testing of the 1959 memorial reverse for the Lincoln cent.

ricko

Is there some doubt that the trial pieces were all destroyed?? Cheers, RickO

CaptHenway

Dang!
So there was a Memorial Reverse die in the Mint at the same time as 1958 obverses!

kbbpll

@CaptHenway said:
Dang!
So there was a Memorial Reverse die in the Mint at the same time as 1958 obverses!

Mint Employee #1: "But he didn't say to destroy these ones."
Mint Employee #2: "He didn't say we could make them either!"

(just kidding)

RogerB

Actually, there was an intense effort to be sure no new reverse dies were accidentally paired with 1958 obverse dies. The order was to destroy - by physical count - all wheat reverse dies at all mints before any new reverse die would be sent out. Quantities had to match. Accountancy professor Howard managed this.

Zoins

Does this mean @dcarr could make a YYYY date coin

MrEureka

@Zoins said:
Does this mean @dcarr could make a YYYY date coin

Maybe with the old reverse!

CaptHenway

@RogerB said:
Actually, there was an intense effort to be sure no new reverse dies were accidentally paired with 1958 obverse dies. The order was to destroy - by physical count - all wheat reverse dies at all mints before any new reverse die would be sent out. Quantities had to match. Accountancy professor Howard managed this.

They destroyed the wheat reverses, but not the 1958-dated obverses?

RogerB

The obverses would all have been destroyed in normal operation. Usable reverse dies were normally carried forward. This was an exception.

CaptHenway

Curious, seeing as how Philadelphia struck over 28 million cents in December of 1958.