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US Mint issued Mayflower silver RP medal - Royal Mint edge inscription
Knell
Posts: 453 ✭✭✭✭✭
Finally got a chance to take a photo of USMint issued Mayflower silver medal from a Royal Mint set with edge inscription.
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Knell
Posts: 453 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
does this edge inscription appear on the US set's proof medal?
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Debt
no
Since the Royal Mint applied this to the US coin, isn't this essentially a modern example of a "chop mark"? It's an assayer's mark, is it not?
US Mint's pics of the medal indicate there is no reference on the coin to "silver" or its purity. Maybe Royal Mint is under a requirement that PM coins it releases indicate their metal and purity?
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Debt
I don't know whether it was a requirement or a choice, but they did it. LOL
An assayer actually certifies each item for metal and purity. He does not take the producers word for it. LOL
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Debt
When will the Mint finally say this issue is sold out?
https://catalog.usmint.gov/mayflower-400th-anniversary-silver-reverse-proof-medal-20XD.html?cgid=2020-product-schedule
I'm not sure what they did with these. These days, they could have hit them with a gun. But they had to add the assay mark to each coin separately.
The assay office says the hallmark indicates "independent evaluation": https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/hallmarking/what-is-a-hallmark
"The United States Mint's silver medal [...] carries a London hallmark of quality."
Source: https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/mayflower/400th-anniversary-of-the-mayflower-voyage-silver-proof-coin-and-medal-set/
From left to right, it appears to be:
~ the sponsor's mark;
~ the fineness mark;
~ the assay office mark.
Reference: https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/hallmarking/what-is-a-hallmark
Edited to add: @jmlanzaf beat me to it.
Almost like CAC stamping the coin's edge.
Maybe some day...
That's a neat indicator of provenance.
I am reminded that all precious metals sold in the UK need a British hallmark. (I am not sure how bullion coins work. Perhaps they are exempt if the issuer and fineness are on the coin.)
It is (or used to be) similar for firearms - they need a British proofmark.
Given the nature of the issue, I wonder if this is a first for a US Mint issue.
thanks for the photo - I'm still waiting on my set to get here from royal mint - shipped December amd all my UK mint shipments [now 4 separate shipments] are languishing [hopefully not stolen] in chcago mail center - they haven't moved in weeks ...
In case anyone is interested, 'The Royal Mint' set is still available ....
https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/mayflower/400th-anniversary-of-the-mayflower-voyage-silver-proof-coin-and-medal-set/
That will be a unique item... Not at all sure that it will garner collector interest though. Cheers, RickO
On US sets, the COA's are numbered. Are they also numbered on the Royal Mint's COA's?
yes, I believe so. Or maybe that was the gold coins.
Yes there is a number on UK sets coa