Privy marks on U.S. coins
jmlanzaf
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The Delaware Innobuck is advertised as having a "privy mark" on the obverse.
What other U.S. coins have privy marks? I'm very tired, but I can't think of any off-hand
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American Innovation
Privy marks? Not a part of the American coinage tradition.
Because of their excessive use, even designers' initials now need to be trashed.
That is my recollection as well. It makes it very interesting that they decided to use a "privy mark" on the Delaware Innovation $. I'm not sure it makes it a rare collectible, but that would make it kind of a unique first for U.S. coinage.
From the Mint website [thanks to @rip_f for bringing it to our attention):
"The American Innovation $1 Coin–Delaware recognizes astronomer Annie Jump Cannon who developed a system for classifying the stars that is still used today. The coin’s reverse (tails) features a silhouette of Annie Jump Cannon against the night sky, with a number of stars visible. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” ANNIE JUMP CANNON,” “CLASSIFYING THE STARS,” and “DELAWARE.” The obverse (heads) features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile with the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “$1.” The obverse also includes a privy mark of a stylized gear, representing industry and innovation. The year of minting, mint mark, and inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the edge of the coin."
USA doesn't need to go there.
The Royal Canadian Mint will soon have to have an anniversary coin for the first use of privy marks. Probably won't sell 200 examples, but they will have to have it nonetheless.
Would, “CAL” on 1848 $2.5 eagles count?
2009 Platinum Eagle
https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/privy-marks-as-identifiers.html
INTERESTING! So, there is one. I wonder if there are others that I'm just not recalling. On commems, maybe?
Maybe. I don't think I've ever heard anyone call it that...
Can we get a definition of "privy mark"? The Dolly Madison commemorative dollar has "T&Co" for Tiffany and Company. Would this be considered a privy mark?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Maybe. Privy marks were normally about minting origin. I'm not sure the gear on the innovation dollar is a privy mark in the same way that they were originally intended.
His and Hers comes to mind.:)
Seriously, four sets of initials on a single coin is ridiculous. Pretty soon we'll have "credits of the committee" around the edge or something.
Additionally, the initials are nearly the size of the font used in the design,
Collector, occasional seller
The eagle on the Franklin half looks like a privy mark, but I think it was included just to meet the long-standing eagle requirement.
What would the star be on the Grant W/star commem?
Collector, occasional seller
Another interesting question.
In looking at the mint website the Pennsylvania coin has the gear on the obverse ( under in god we trust ), so do you think maybe the rare one might be the Introductory coin that doesn't have it?
Agree. All initials should be removed from this coin with the exception of the PH which should stay and perhaps be made a little larger.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
The Mint should do a "Longacre" and hide all the initials somewhere in Liberty's design.
Pete
A report of the CCAC meeting discussions referred to their desire to have a common privy mark on all coins of this series. On the Introductory coin, looks like they considered the shielded patent office symbol to be one.
"Committee members also tossed around ideas for series coins to share a privy mark — something that was similar, but smaller, than the shielded patent office symbol shown on reverse design #8, or perhaps a depiction of a gear or gears to convey innovation." (coinnews.net)
According to Wikipedia...."In modern times, the privy mark is used as a design and marketing feature to commemorate a special event or signify that the coin is part of a set."....So it could be anything that is unique to a coin/series. Cheers, RickO
That makes Washington's bust a privy mark on the quarter... I don't think I like that definition. LOL