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new 1894-S Dime book, A Mystery Unraveled
kevinj
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The 1894-S dime book titled “The 1894-S Dime, A Mystery Unraveled” by Kevin Flynn is now at the printers and will be available January 22, 2006.
Over a hundred years ago, only 24 dimes were struck at the San Francisco Mint for the year 1894, making them the lowest denomination regular-issue business strike for a United States Mint. Why were only 24 struck, who received them, what part of the year were they struck, who at the Mint knew about them being struck, were they released into circulation, how many dime dies were sent to San Francisco in 1894, who ordered them struck, when did the numismatic community know about these coins, and what factors determined when coins were struck at a Mint? These are only some of the questions behind one of the greatest mysteries in U.S. coins.
Today, there are only nine specimens known, two of which are in very low circulated grades. The two best specimens have recently sold for more than one million dollars each. The 1894-S dime is considered one of the top five coins for all U.S. series. Yet, how much is truly known about these rare and elusive treasures. Over the past 111 years since these coins were created, the numismatic community has propounded several theories and stories surrounding the circumstances and why people believed they were struck and how they left the San Francisco Mint.
What if almost everything the numismatic community believed about these coins for the past 111 years was incorrect? What if the truth as to why they were struck was hidden right under our noses all this time? What if there were different pieces to the puzzle that had to be used together to solve the mystery? What would it take to refute the current beliefs? What evidence could be found after 111 years that has not already been discovered? Letters from the individuals who were involved with the 1894-S dime would be a great place to learn why they were made and the circumstances around their creation. The National Archives provided the key to unraveling this story. The National Archives in Philadelphia provided some help, but the primary evidence was found at the National Archives in San Bruno, CA. These were the San Francisco Mint records from this period. From these records, most of the picture took form, the gaps closed, the mystery became unraveled.
Part of the answer came from different individuals from different time periods. Farran Zebre's 1928 Numismatist Article was an important element, as was the 1951 Numismatic Scrapbook article that stated a Ukiah woman sold two of the 1894-S dimes. There were even pieces of the puzzle provided by individuals today, such as one person who was with Guy Chapman when Earl Parker showed him the two 1894-S dimes. One individual was even good friends with Leslie Daggett and knew Hallie.
The initial objective of this book was to collect all known information on the 1894-S dimes. All articles, stories, references, auction descriptions, Mint reports, or any other type of information was collected. This information is listed in the second half of the book. From these references, the theories were analyzed with the known evidence. Then a list of questions was generated of all the unknowns, unanswered, assumptions, alleged facts, and anything that needed to be answered regarding the 1894-S dime, such as whether these coins were struck as proofs. This list was several pages long. The National Archives in Philadelphia and San Bruno were visited. Because it was not known where evidence might be found, all documents from September, 1893 through July, 1895 were examined. This encompassed thousands of documents and records. Some unexpected evidence was found, such as when the Assay Department records from San Francisco were examined, it was discovered that John Daggett's son, Ben, worked in the Assay Department in 1894. Most of the important documents came from the official general correspondence at San Bruno.
The archive documents were then analyzed, categorized by subject, and copied into the book. From these documents, a better picture was provided as to the circumstances surrounding the San Francisco Mint in 1894 and the 1894-S dime. Answers were found to many of the underlying questions. As seen in this book, the answers will surprise you, but the facts and documents speak for themselves.
Learn what drove coin production at the San Francisco Mint in 1894. Why certain coins were not struck. When and how many 1894-S dimes obv/rev working dies were prepared by the Philadelphia Mint. What day the 1894-S dimes were struck. What day and how many 1894-S dimes were assayed. Why the 1894-S dimes were not struck as proofs. Why the 1894-S dimes were struck. What collectors were told by the Mint in 1894 and 1895. That the source of Earl Parker’s two specimens was not Hallie Daggett. That John Daggett was most likely not the individual who ordered the 1894-S dimes struck. Who was Farran Zebre’s source at the Mint for his 1928 article. All of this and much, much more
This is Kevin Flynn’s 26th book. As will be seen in this book, what differentiates Mr. Flynn from other authors is his research, both at the National Archives, and his general ability to focus and research an issue. The passion, fullfilment, motivation to uncover the truth, the desire to share and teach others what he has learned is his main driving factor. This book is his legacy.
Only 500 softcover and 24 hardcovers were printed. Softcover is $32.95, hardcover is $90.00, plus $5.00 for postage for all orders. To reserve a copy, send a check or money order to Kevin Flynn, P.O. Box 538, Rancocas, NJ 08073, or email at kevinj50@comcast.net.
Over a hundred years ago, only 24 dimes were struck at the San Francisco Mint for the year 1894, making them the lowest denomination regular-issue business strike for a United States Mint. Why were only 24 struck, who received them, what part of the year were they struck, who at the Mint knew about them being struck, were they released into circulation, how many dime dies were sent to San Francisco in 1894, who ordered them struck, when did the numismatic community know about these coins, and what factors determined when coins were struck at a Mint? These are only some of the questions behind one of the greatest mysteries in U.S. coins.
Today, there are only nine specimens known, two of which are in very low circulated grades. The two best specimens have recently sold for more than one million dollars each. The 1894-S dime is considered one of the top five coins for all U.S. series. Yet, how much is truly known about these rare and elusive treasures. Over the past 111 years since these coins were created, the numismatic community has propounded several theories and stories surrounding the circumstances and why people believed they were struck and how they left the San Francisco Mint.
What if almost everything the numismatic community believed about these coins for the past 111 years was incorrect? What if the truth as to why they were struck was hidden right under our noses all this time? What if there were different pieces to the puzzle that had to be used together to solve the mystery? What would it take to refute the current beliefs? What evidence could be found after 111 years that has not already been discovered? Letters from the individuals who were involved with the 1894-S dime would be a great place to learn why they were made and the circumstances around their creation. The National Archives provided the key to unraveling this story. The National Archives in Philadelphia provided some help, but the primary evidence was found at the National Archives in San Bruno, CA. These were the San Francisco Mint records from this period. From these records, most of the picture took form, the gaps closed, the mystery became unraveled.
Part of the answer came from different individuals from different time periods. Farran Zebre's 1928 Numismatist Article was an important element, as was the 1951 Numismatic Scrapbook article that stated a Ukiah woman sold two of the 1894-S dimes. There were even pieces of the puzzle provided by individuals today, such as one person who was with Guy Chapman when Earl Parker showed him the two 1894-S dimes. One individual was even good friends with Leslie Daggett and knew Hallie.
The initial objective of this book was to collect all known information on the 1894-S dimes. All articles, stories, references, auction descriptions, Mint reports, or any other type of information was collected. This information is listed in the second half of the book. From these references, the theories were analyzed with the known evidence. Then a list of questions was generated of all the unknowns, unanswered, assumptions, alleged facts, and anything that needed to be answered regarding the 1894-S dime, such as whether these coins were struck as proofs. This list was several pages long. The National Archives in Philadelphia and San Bruno were visited. Because it was not known where evidence might be found, all documents from September, 1893 through July, 1895 were examined. This encompassed thousands of documents and records. Some unexpected evidence was found, such as when the Assay Department records from San Francisco were examined, it was discovered that John Daggett's son, Ben, worked in the Assay Department in 1894. Most of the important documents came from the official general correspondence at San Bruno.
The archive documents were then analyzed, categorized by subject, and copied into the book. From these documents, a better picture was provided as to the circumstances surrounding the San Francisco Mint in 1894 and the 1894-S dime. Answers were found to many of the underlying questions. As seen in this book, the answers will surprise you, but the facts and documents speak for themselves.
Learn what drove coin production at the San Francisco Mint in 1894. Why certain coins were not struck. When and how many 1894-S dimes obv/rev working dies were prepared by the Philadelphia Mint. What day the 1894-S dimes were struck. What day and how many 1894-S dimes were assayed. Why the 1894-S dimes were not struck as proofs. Why the 1894-S dimes were struck. What collectors were told by the Mint in 1894 and 1895. That the source of Earl Parker’s two specimens was not Hallie Daggett. That John Daggett was most likely not the individual who ordered the 1894-S dimes struck. Who was Farran Zebre’s source at the Mint for his 1928 article. All of this and much, much more
This is Kevin Flynn’s 26th book. As will be seen in this book, what differentiates Mr. Flynn from other authors is his research, both at the National Archives, and his general ability to focus and research an issue. The passion, fullfilment, motivation to uncover the truth, the desire to share and teach others what he has learned is his main driving factor. This book is his legacy.
Only 500 softcover and 24 hardcovers were printed. Softcover is $32.95, hardcover is $90.00, plus $5.00 for postage for all orders. To reserve a copy, send a check or money order to Kevin Flynn, P.O. Box 538, Rancocas, NJ 08073, or email at kevinj50@comcast.net.
Kevin J Flynn
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Comments
Wow - Farran was all powerful to get those Assay Commission shipping reports backdated to 1894!
he also had some 21-s branchmint proofs made too...i was fortunate enough to find one in a pcgs ms64 holder in an auction and bought it at ask...........put it into a bmpr 64 holder and traded it for lafayette dollar in ms 67
nice days work ...but not possible if it wasnt for farran
out of rockets ...out of bullets...switching to harsh language
detailed knowledge of the 1894-S dimes.
I wonder if the 1894 brass San Francisco Mint doorway gatekeeper plaque shown at the bottom of my post had some relation to the fact that US Mint workers had plenty of time on their hands in 1894 to make such plaque?