clashed dies ??????

longtimecollector

I was reading about chain cents here... chain cent story
and a question arose in my mind........... What kind of idiot could "clash dies" in a hand press??????? Methinks the ale was flowing !

lathmach

The press was a screw press, with heavy weights on "outriggers". The weights would be swung by hand and pulled back with ropes when the coins were struck.
If the guy setting the planchets on the anvil die didn't get one on for any reason, the dies woulda clashed the same as modern presses.
picture of screw press

Ray