How many large cents were in a mint keg?

291fifth

Were different size kegs used? What about half cent kegs? How many did they contain?

LanceNewmanOCC

@291fifth said:
Were different size kegs used? What about half cent kegs? How many did they contain?

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per NNP referencing Penny-Wise july 1968, pg 120 - John Write stated "the number of coins in a keg varied. Breen's "Coin Hoards" article in the January, 1952 Numismatist gave the number as 12-18,000 cents per keg, average 14,000. Bowers, after studying additional data, states that "as of 1816-20 it was about 17,000 to 18,000."

John Wright per his "Ask John" column in March 1983 issue pg 111, in reference to the Randall Hoard, offered the figure of 15,000 cents per keg.

per "The Large Cent Keg" in March 1996 issue pg 59, Jim Hart wrote, "The best information I could find on a large cent keg is in John Wright's The Cent Book (glossary under keg). John notes that cent shipments in 1803 were in $150 amounts and would weigh 360 pounds and be about 24" tall by 15" in diameter."

found from link 1 - scrolled down found this link 2.

ricko

With that much variance in quantities, one would assume the values were determined by weight in each case. Cheers, RickO

SaorAlba

@ricko said:
With that much variance in quantities, one would assume the values were determined by weight in each case. Cheers, RickO

And of course, your trust in the accuracy of the scale weighing such items.

TurtleCat

@SaorAlba said:

@ricko said:
With that much variance in quantities, one would assume the values were determined by weight in each case. Cheers, RickO

And of course, your trust in the accuracy of the scale weighing such items.

True, though I have often read that the mint’s scales were very accurate. The difference in quantity may also be the size differences of the barrels plus how well the coins positioned themselves. I doubt each would be filled to the top. Probably filled to weight after a tare weight of the barrel.

291fifth

@SaorAlba said:

@ricko said:
With that much variance in quantities, one would assume the values were determined by weight in each case. Cheers, RickO

And of course, your trust in the accuracy of the scale weighing such items.

The scale used by the mint was probably very accurate. Mints took such things as weights very seriously and would have purchased quality scales.

PerryHall

Do any of the original US Mint wooden kegs still exist? I don't know if this has already been mentioned but I read these wooden kegs came from the contractor or supplier that provided the copper planchets and the mint just reused them for the finished coins.

SaorAlba

Imagine if they used whiskey barrels!