A U.S. Mint Question

keets

I was at the local shop this past week and we came up with a puzzler. The owner often poses a question at our club meetings and has a prize like a Silver Eagle or proof set. He came up with one even he didn't know the answer to and he asked me for help!!!!!!! After I got up and dusted myself off I said maybe some of you guys would know, so here goes:

What was the series or the year in which the U.S. Mint first used automatic presses as opposed to hand operated machines??

If someone does know, could you point me to a reference? Thanks.

Al H.

Cam40

Although I dont know,it doesnt seem to be a difficult question.Early 1900s?
Good question.

coppercoins

Although a complete guess, could it have been with the later seated coinage and late large cents and indian cents? I'd say 1850ish.

kranky

This page says the first steam press was used on March 22, 1836.
This page says prior to that, all coins were made on manually-operated screw presses.

coppercoins

Darn, and I had first said 1840 and edited before posting to 1850.

FC57Coins

Al:

On page 62 of the VAM book it states that in 1901 they begun to strike proof dollars in new hydraulic presses that replaced the old mechanical ones in Philadelphia.

Frank

airplanenut

The year was 1836- Diedrich Uhlhorn's press, operated with a pendulum to swing a lever to bring the die up and down, was modified by Thnollier, a French engineer- this new press was brough to the United States. A kunckle mechanism steadied the strike for coins with considerably similar strikes throughout production.

Jeremy

PS-
Cooper, Dennis R. The Art and Craft of Coinmaking: A History of Minting and Technology. London: Spink & Son, Ltd., 1988. pgs 137-149.

My research paper came in handy! Woo Hoo!

FC57Coins

I guess the question becomes what do you mean by "hand operated"? Until 1901 planchets had to be hand fed into tubes which then fed the presses. Once the hydraulic/electric machines came into being, the operation became automatic.

Frank

keets

hey frank and krank---sorry, i couldn't help myself!!!!

my original guess was that it would have been a steam operated press as kranky suggests with the link. i just wasn't sure when Mr. Fulton invented the steam engine, though i knew it was pre-Civil War. with regard to the feeding of planchets, i think my buddy was mainly wondering about the actual press operation and the striking of the planchet. so short of any other answer i'm gonna go with the 1836 date.

that was an interesting period with regard to design and mint production.

al h.

airplanenut

Keets- want the section of my paper on the evolution of minting? Click Here- about half-way down (a little more, actually)

Jeremy

smprfi

Direct from the U.S.Mint.Dates 1816 and 1836

coppercoins

Drool to think of 120 of these being made each minute....

DHeath

My 1836 lettered edge half is on the way back from PCGS, but you can borrow it as a prop if you need it Keets.

Gemini

Fulton actually invented the steamboat and not the steam engine.
Credit for perfecting the steam engine goes to Scottish engineer James Watt.
Watt then joined up with manufacturer Mathew Boulton of Birmingham England. Boulton persuaded Parliment to renew Watts patent for 25 years. The two then organized a company to supervise its construction and operation. Watt developed crank movement so that the engine could turn wheels. Together they manufactured many things including coins and planchets as early as the 1780's.
They were years ahead of other Mints at the time and perfected the master hubbing technique that produced a consistant design in coins a process that was not put into use in the U.S. until years later in 1836.

laserart

coppercoin, I have a half like that except mine has a deep scratch across the reverse side. I like yours better.