I just bought a 1836 $2 1/2 classic head gold coin. Can anyone tell me if these were struck on a s

PerryHall

I know that the mint started striking coins in 1836 on stream presses but I wasn't sure if that included all denominations. Any information will be appreciated.

JrGMan2004

Good question

MrHalfDime

The steampress was first introduced at the Philadelphia Mint in March of 1836, but was not used for all denominations. Certainly the smaller silver denominations (i.e., half dimes and dimes) were not struck using steam power, but continued to be struck using a hand screw press. I cannot immediately put my hands on the information you seek regarding the $2-1/2 gold quarter eagles, but it would logically follow that, due to their small size, they, too, continued to be struck on the hand screw presses. Possible sources for the answer might come from Taxay's "U.S. Mint and Coinage", Stewart's "History of the First U.S. Mint", or Breen's "Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins".

BillJones

My educated guess would be that the 1836 quarter eagles were struck on screw presses.

The first U.S. coins that were struck on steam presses were the 1,200 or so 1836 Reeded Edge half dollars. The coins were struck in early November of 1836. Most collectors view them as patterns, and given the embryonic state of steam press coinage at the Philadelphia mint in 1936, I'd say that there no chance that the $2.50 gold coins were struck on anything but a screw press.

BillJones

Having done more research, the only 1836 coins that were struck on a steam press were the cent, quarter and the reeded edge 1836 half dollar.

dunkleosteus430

Nearly 20 years between posts on this thread. Wowza.

BillJones

Yea, I was Googling the topic and ran into this post.

CaptHenway

What Bill said, then and now……

JimTyler

@PerryHall said:
I know that the mint started striking coins in 1836 on stream presses but I wasn't sure if that included all denominations. Any information will be appreciated.

Bet you still have it.