Stump the Forum Night!

MrEureka

Tonight, I challenge everyone to post the most difficult NUMISMATIC questions you can ask. Let's stick to facts, not guesses and opinions. For example, "What coin will appreciate the most in 2005?" is a difficult question, but there's no factual answer. Let's skip questions like that. Instead, let's ask tough questions with factual answers, even if you don't think anyone here has the facts. And let's post all the questions and answers to this thread.

I'll start it rolling with my own "stump the forum question":

STFQ #1

Are the silver plugs often found in 1795 Flowing Hair Dollars the same fineness as the rest of the coin?

BigE

I find the word "stump" offensive so I won't be responding-------------------------BigE

cmanbb

Silver fineness of the plugs are finer than than the rest of the coin....................

STFQ#2

Were there any Proof 1917 Walkers struck at the mint?

Yousri

<< <i>I find the word "stump" offensive so I won't be responding-------------------------BigE >>




Translation: I don't know.

airplanenut

<< <i>STFQ #1

Are the silver plugs often found in 1795 Flowing Hair Dollars the same fineness as the rest of the coin? >>


A: Maybe

Question: What type of classic coin has the most new varieties discovered per year now that many books have been written?

MrEureka

I find the word "stump" offensive so I won't be responding-------------------------BigE

Yousri

STFQ#3

How many 1932 D mercury dimes minted?

cmanbb

STFQ#3

ZERO

MrEureka

Silver fineness of the plugs are finer than than the rest of the coin....................

cmanbb - Do you have evidence? Can you cite a source?

TWQG

For what crime was Abel Buell's forehead branded?

cmanbb

NO..........I guess I broke the rules of the thread


I answered this question using "common sense" considering the fineness of a 1795 Dollar is .8924 silver and .1076 copper.
And that the minted "probably" did not have plugs of the same fineness, and the assumtions that have been asked for years...........

Why did the mint use plugs.

Planchets too light, not enough fineness.
Did the use adjustments..........adjust too much, and add a plug?

RKKay

What raw coin is sitting on my desk right now?

MrEureka

When did the Fugio Cent lose its legal tender status?

Lakesammman

If it's raw on your desk, it's one of those crazy counterfeits......now ask a proper question!

RKKay

<< <i>If it's raw on your desk, it's one of those crazy counterfeits >>



That's pretty lame. You didn't even guess which one.

Yousri

<< <i>What raw coin is sitting on my desk right now? >>



3 C silver

MrEureka

What is the first medal struck at the Philadelphia Mint?

nwcs

Why is there the strawberry leaf variety cent?
Did Henry Voight actually design the 1793 chain cent?
What do John Flanigan, Victor Brenner, and de Francisci have in common that does not involve coins? (this I actually know)

100proof1957

What is the approximate mintage of Type 1 1956 Frankies in Proof ?

airplanenut

How many coins could a coinchuck chuck if a coinchuck could chuck coins?

What's a coinchuck?

SanctionII

In answer to 100Proof1957's question about Type 1 1956 Proof Franklins, I will guess .5% of the total proof mintage of about 660,000 coins........or 3,300 [I have one of them (which I found raw and only brilliant) so only 3,299 of my guess remain unaccounted for].

How did I do?

kyleknap

Re: #1

Reiver's reference on the series states that Ken Bressett had a series of spectrographic x-rays conducted that suggested the metal content of the plug was of very similar fineness to the rest of the coin. The book also mentions that metallurgist Chris Pilod's results from advanced electron analysis drew similar conclusions.

ok....back to work now....I'm spending wayyy too much time around here

Kyle

eyoung429

How many coins did Marty get slabbed in the past 4 months?

How many more coins did Marty get over the grade of MS68Cam?

How many did Russ get slabbed in the past 4 months?

How many times did Marty snipe Russ in the last 4 months?

kyleknap

<< <i>When did the Fugio Cent lose its legal tender status? >>



Cannot find specific mention of "Fugio" cents; however, the Copper Coinage Act of May 8th, 1792, after discussing the copper cents and half-cents to be coined by the US mint, states that "...no copper coins, or pieces whatsoever, except the said cents and half cents, shall pass current as money, as shall be paid, or offered to be paid or received in payment for any debt, demand, claim, matter, or thing whatsoever; and all copper coins or pieces, except the said cents and half-cents, which shall be paid or offered to be paid or received in payment contrary to the prohibition aforesaid, shall be forfeited..."

Kyle

100proof1957

Sanction,

Conjecture is about 5 % not .5 % or about 34,000 Type 1's
PCGS has graded around 400 Type 1 Proofs at this point.
I have 4 very nice Type 1's in for grade right now,about 1 % of the known POP !

Proof

100proof1957

Coin plugs ?

.925 Fine or sterling ?

JrGMan2004

Any serious Bust specialist better know this answer......

For what reason did Russ Logan always crack out slabbed Bust coins for his collection?

MassFullStepper

Buell was a counterfeiter from Ct.........

TWQG

Yep


<< <i>New Haven CT, 1762: convicted of couterfeiting and confined to New London Prison. Later removed to Killingsworth Jail, right ear cropped and "C" branded on forehead. Pardoned in 1776. >>

MrEureka

For what reason did Russ Logan always crack out slabbed Bust coins for his collection?

He was a crackout artist?

JrGMan2004

<< <i>For what reason did Russ Logan always crack out slabbed Bust coins for his collection?

He was a crackout artist?








>>

Hahahahaha! Good one Fuzzy Face!

Crazy4Coins

What is the name of the first numismatic coin book published?

What year was it published?

How many copies sold?

Bikingnut

This should be easy an easy one. There are two parts.

Why were there no nickels, dimes, and quarters minted in 1933?

Second part: Why was the Washington Quarter the only silver coin minted in 1932?

100proof1957

Pitman Act ?

Bikingnut

Pitman Act ?

Off hand I don't recall. I would have to break out the history books. I'm sure it has something to do with the depression.

ldhair

What was Teddy's inspirations for the image on the cent today and how did he first see and wish for it?
I know it's easy but it's all I could come up with.

MrEureka

Why is there the strawberry leaf variety cent?

One word: Jagermeister! The die-cutter had to be SERIOUSLY drunk.

BTW, has anyone else noticed that the "strawberry leaves" are present on BOTH sides of the coin? I didn't realize that until just now.

Melmcbee

Somebody Please..... please answer these questions. I will not sleep tonight. I have spent the last hour to no avail trying to get the right answers. Let's see.
Russ Logan liked raw coins. He collected bust halfs because they were the last man made coins or something like that. (wrong)
No nickels, dimes, or quarters were minted in 1933 because they were trying to save the dies. No money. No buffalo's were minted in 1922 either. ( that's not the right answer.)
The Pitman act in Idaho was somekind of wildlife conservation act. (Not even close to coins wrong again)
The strawberry leaf....only 4 known will probably never see one in my life.
First medal at Philadelphia? Was it the Jefferson Peace medal 1801.(of course not)

Someone please help me I am stuck in the depths of ignorance and cannot eat, sleep or work until I know these answers.

P.S. Thanks for the history lessons.

Wekar

How many dies have been used to produce all circulating coinage?

How many (discernable) die varieties are there?

Are any die varieties have no (known) example anymore?

STFQ is fun

Conder101

Russ Logan cracked them out so he could study and photograph the edges.

MadMonk

Which us coin was the first to have a reeded edge?

Conder101

<< <i>STFQ #1

Are the silver plugs often found in 1795 Flowing Hair Dollars the same fineness as the rest of the coin? >>


Already been answered but yes they are the same fineness and were used to adjust weight upwards.



<< <i>STFQ#2

Were there any Proof 1917 Walkers struck at the mint? >>


Not that I know of, there were a few cents and quarters, I believe a few nickels as well but I don't think any dimes or halves were struck.



<< <i>STFQ#3

How many 1932 D mercury dimes minted? >>


Zero



<< <i>For what crime was Abel Buell's forehead branded? >>


Counterfeiting



<< <i>When did the Fugio Cent lose its legal tender status? >>


I don't believe it ever was legal tender. Back then copper coinage was a necessity coinage but only gold and silver were legal tender. Even the government struck post 1792 copper coinage was not legal tender until 1864 when the cent was made legal tender. (The half cent, having been discintinued was not made legal tender and did not become legal tender until 1965.)



<< <i>Why is there the strawberry leaf variety cent? >>


No one really knows for sure. It is thought by some to be a contemporary counterfeit, but it also has punch linkages to US Mint products.



<< <i>Why were there no nickels, dimes, and quarters minted in 1933? >>


Because of the depression demand for coins was way down and new production was not needed.



<< <i>Second part: Why was the Washington Quarter the only silver coin minted in 1932? >>


New coinage was still not really needed that much but the quarter was a commemerative issue marking Washingtons 200th birthday and really couldn't have its production moved to another year.



<< <i>BTW, has anyone else noticed that the "strawberry leaves" are present on BOTH sides of the coin? >>


Yes, I knew that.



<< <i>How many dies have been used to produce all circulating coinage? >>


No one knows, the records for die production have gaps due to lost/missing records.



<< <i>How many (discernable) die varieties are there? >>


Again no one knows, new varieties are still being discovered.



<< <i>Are any die varieties have no (known) example anymore? >>


Probably, there are some early coinages where one of the dies show clashmarks, but the marks are not from the other die that it is mated with or any other die that it is known to have been mated with.



<< <i>Which us coin was the first to have a reeded edge? >>


1793 chain cent (vine and bars edge) I don't consider the 1792 pieces to be coins.

ziggy29

<< <i>Why were there no nickels, dimes, and quarters minted in 1933?

Second part: Why was the Washington Quarter the only silver coin minted in 1932? >>



I had always assumed that there was a lack of demand for new coinage in the depths of the Depression. Quarters were only minted in 1932 because the Washington was originally supposed to be a one-year circulating commemorative for the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth. No "regular issue" quarters were made in 1931 through 1933...but upon resumption of silver coinage in 1934, they decided to deep-six the SLQ and keep the Washington design as the regular issue.