1842 Dies Canceled in 1843

bignubnumismatics1

Here is a letter from the New Orleans mint showing the dies canceled by "cutting a cross upon their face"

I am not the best at transcribing so I will not attempt to do so. Hopefully you find this mildly interesting.

ricko

Interesting... can get the general message... some words cannot be read.... Where is this letter from?? Archives, a reference book? Cheers, RickO

bignubnumismatics1

@ricko said:
Interesting... can get the general message... some words cannot be read.... Where is this letter from?? Archives, a reference book? Cheers, RickO

Archives

messydesk

Quick crack at transcription:

U.S. Branch Mint
N. Orleans, April 10, 1843

I enclose a statement of our operation during last month.
The coiner has cancelled in my presence, the following dies for 1842, by cutting a cross upon the face -
1 head 1/2 Eagle
& pr. [pair] of eagles, one of them reserved from 1841.
1 pr. of 1/4 eagles
5 pr. of 1/2 Dollars
4 pr. and 3 head dimes
2 pr. and 4 head 1/2 dimes
8 pr. 1/2 dollars, including 1 tail reserved from 41
It appears that one of the 1/2 dime dies reserved last year was a head. In a memorandum furnished me at the time by Mr. Tyler, he had set them down [...] tails -
Dies received in 1842, reserved.
1/2 dimes 6 tails
dimes 3 -- do. [ditto]
1/4 dollars 2 -- do.
1/2 eagle 1 -- do.
This account agrees with the dies received at the mint in 1842, and those received from 41, with the exception of the 1 head 1/4 dollar die entered (perhaps erroneously) on the books as a tail. Be good enough to inform me whether such is the case. I am very respectfully, Sir, your obedient servant [abbreviated], /s/ Supt.

R. M. Patterson Esq.
Director of the Mint of the U.S. Philad'a

ricko

@messydesk .... Thank you sir.... Well done!! Cheers, RickO

messydesk

I see from the text on CoinFacts for 42-O eagles that the most common variety is with the die "reserved from 1841." I think it's cool when the coins line up with the old documentation like this.