The mint's secrets???

smokincoin

An article in the Oct. 22 issue of Coin World (p.111) has got me wondering...does the U.S.Mint often keep "secrets" from us? I mean...have they done this before? Could they still be doing it today?

If you haven't seen it, it is talking about the experimental $5 gold Sacs and the fact that it's taken 5 yrs. for them to respond to Coin World's questions about them. That's 5 yrs. of zipped lips!

What's got me wondering is that I'm still not convinced that the 2 Texas state quarters released in the BEP's "Texas Coin & Currency Set" aren't satin finish coins! I know, I know... I've read all the threads about them, I've talked to Pcgs and the mint, a year ago, about them, but knowing now that they, the U.S.Mint, have been "keeping" things from us kinda rekindles the thought. I can imagine the day they recognize them as such...

pharmer

You didn't appreciate their openness on the Wisconsin extra leafs and how they happened? The folks who persisted in the accidental die gouge theory (how did they slither off that hook btw?) did it in full knowledge of the mint's history of not talking, and used that to further their absurd insistence that they were not intentional.

smokincoin

<< <i>You didn't appreciate their openness on the Wisconsin extra leafs and how they happened? The folks who persisted in the accidental die gouge theory (how did they slither off that hook btw?) did it in full knowledge of the mint's history of not talking, and used that to further their absurd insistence that they were not intentional. >>



So they DO have a "history of not talking"? Does this go way back, or a much more recent "phenomenon"?

7over8

smokin -

I am with you on the Satin Finish Texas Quarters released in the Texas C&C BEP set.

They are not circulation strikes. They certainly appear to be "test" SATIN finish strikes, bearing the 2004 date,

I know, I know, forum members will start to rip into me for saying it, but

we will learn the truth someday.

fivecents

SHHHH.....all the Sac 1$ in the US Mint issued jewelry has a burnished finish.

cladking

Yes. Absolutely. They are forever doing things that they
don't announce or make generally public. I doubt that it
usually rises to the status of "secret", but is more along
the lines of the right hand not knowing what the left is
doing.

For many years the mint never really explained the nature
of mint set coins. When asked they used a set spiel about
these being regular issue coins like those in circulation. A
casual glance at the coins showed this simply was not the
case. It was not until 1998 that the true nature of mint set
coins was generally known and even today many of the de-
tails or pictures of the operation have never been made pub-
lic.

One never knows what's next when he collects these coins.
It's not like it's just numismatic products either. They release
lots of coins to circulation that are very nonstandard.

smokincoin

<< <i>smokin -

I am with you on the Satin Finish Texas Quarters released in the Texas C&C BEP set.

They are not circulation strikes. They certainly appear to be "test" SATIN finish strikes, bearing the 2004 date,

I know, I know, forum members will start to rip into me for saying it, but

we will learn the truth someday. >>



You know, what really gets me is that one lady, I talked to several a year ago, at the mint told me they were satin finish coins! I was stoked when she said that! Maybe she slipped. Maybe she lied to me. Maybe she didn't know what the heck she was talking about. I assumed the third was probably the case knowing them. Pcgs said that if & when the mint declared them as such then they, Pcgs, would recognize them as well. I don't understand how they, Pcgs, doesn't already know? Hopefully someday someone, like an attorney/researcher will uncover the true story about them. You know...just like the $5 gold Sackies! Took 5 yrs, but someone decided to talk. Till then my hopes remain! Imagine the value of a '04-D or an '04-P Satin Finish Texas State Quarter with a mintage of only 3,000???

smokincoin

<< <i>Yes. Absolutely. They are forever doing things that they
don't announce or make generally public. I doubt that it
usually rises to the status of "secret", but is more along
the lines of the right hand not knowing what the left is
doing.

For many years the mint never really explained the nature
of mint set coins. When asked they used a set spiel about
these being regular issue coins like those in circulation. A
casual glance at the coins showed this simply was not the
case. It was not until 1998 that the true nature of mint set
coins was generally known and even today many of the de-
tails or pictures of the operation have never been made pub-
lic.



One never knows what's next when he collects these coins.
It's not like it's just numismatic products either. They release
lots of coins to circulation that are very nonstandard. >>



Thanks Clad! That's what I wanted to know!

pf70collector

What's got me wondering is that I'm still not convinced that the 2 Texas state quarters released in the BEP's "Texas Coin & Currency Set" aren't satin finish coins! I know, I know... I've read all the threads about them, I've talked to Pcgs and the mint, a year ago, about them, but knowing now that they, the U.S.Mint, have been "keeping" things from us kinda rekindles the thought. I can imagine the day they recognize them as such

I am with you. I have 6 of these sets and also believe they are Satin Finish. However they are only the D coins not the P. Which makes them even more suspicious. Why two D coins in this set and not a P and D. If they had a P in their it would only cause attention to the D maybe? Other than the Freedom of Information Act, how else to do you get any acknowlegdement from the mint?

Coinosaurus

<< <i>Yes. Absolutely. They are forever doing things that they
don't announce or make generally public. I doubt that it
usually rises to the status of "secret", but is more along
the lines of the right hand not knowing what the left is
doing.
>>



Cladking is dead on. Never attribute to maliciousness what you explain by incompetence.

CaptHenway

I have known about the gold Sacagawea $5's for years, but we just could not prove it until the Mint 'fessed up. It's like the Cheerios dollar reverse design which I saw on a die trial in 1999, but which the Mint kept telling me had never been made in die form until the pictures of the gold Sacagawea $1's came out with the same reverse.
TD

smokincoin

<< <i>What's got me wondering is that I'm still not convinced that the 2 Texas state quarters released in the BEP's "Texas Coin & Currency Set" aren't satin finish coins! I know, I know... I've read all the threads about them, I've talked to Pcgs and the mint, a year ago, about them, but knowing now that they, the U.S.Mint, have been "keeping" things from us kinda rekindles the thought. I can imagine the day they recognize them as such

I am with you. I have 6 of these sets and also believe they are Satin Finish. However they are only the D coins not the P. Which makes them even more suspicious. Why two D coins in this set and not a P and D. If they had a P in their it would only cause attention to the D maybe? Other than the Freedom of Information Act, how else to do you get any acknowlegdement from the mint? >>



Thanks for the reminder pf70. I have two of them as well and haven't touched them in over a year. Forgot they were both Ds.

mozeppa

I believe at one time a few collectors found the 69-s doubled die cent..and asked the mint if they was a mint product.

the mints response was that a doubled die such as that surele wasn't possible...asked everyone that had one to send it in for verification.

some people did ...they immediately declared them as "countefeits" AND DESTRORED THEM!

THEN LATER THE WERE PROVED TO BE REAL! ......case in point....they're still finding them today in bank rolls.

tahoe98

<< <i>Yes. Absolutely. They are forever doing things that they
don't announce or make generally public. I doubt that it
usually rises to the status of "secret", but is more along
the lines of the right hand not knowing what the left is
doing.

For many years the mint never really explained the nature
of mint set coins. When asked they used a set spiel about
these being regular issue coins like those in circulation. A
casual glance at the coins showed this simply was not the
case. It was not until 1998 that the true nature of mint set
coins was generally known and even today many of the de-
tails or pictures of the operation have never been made pub-
lic.

One never knows what's next when he collects these coins.
It's not like it's just numismatic products either. They release
lots of coins to circulation that are very nonstandard. >>




you said it sam!

messydesk

<< <i>Yes. Absolutely. They are forever doing things that they
don't announce or make generally public. I doubt that it
usually rises to the status of "secret", but is more along
the lines of the right hand not knowing what the left is
doing. >>


“In explaining any puzzling Washington phenomenon, always choose stupidity over conspiracy, incompetence over cunning. Anything else gives them too much credit.” —Charles Krauthammer

While the mint isn't in Washington, the confines of the mint walls in P, D, and S surely can be considered little "remote Washingtons."

PerryHall

<< <i>

<< <i>Yes. Absolutely. They are forever doing things that they
don't announce or make generally public. I doubt that it
usually rises to the status of "secret", but is more along
the lines of the right hand not knowing what the left is
doing. >>


“In explaining any puzzling Washington phenomenon, always choose stupidity over conspiracy, incompetence over cunning. Anything else gives them too much credit.” —Charles Krauthammer

While the mint isn't in Washington, the confines of the mint walls in P, D, and S surely can be considered little "remote Washingtons." >>



If they are so incompetent, why are there so many MS/PF70's being slabbed?

Bochiman

Just remember folks...it's all a conspiracy against you.

Gemineye

<< <i>
If they are so incompetent, why are there so many MS/PF70's being slabbed? >>


Cause the TPG's are grading them as such.....

pf70collector

Note to self. Don't send anything to the mint for verification.

ProofArtworkonCircs

One researcher requesting 19th century records was told by a mint spokewoman "We rather burn them first." And I think a lot of old records were destroyed at about that time.

I have found that asking an embarassing question will cause your letter to disappear. One has to get a congressman to interecede to get an answer.

pb2y

The US Mint has never admitted to melting gold coins confiscated
in the early 1930s.