Is there an online resource for number of dies used...

UtahCoin

...for proof and/or circulation strikes? Specifically for mid to late 1800's. If not an online source, any other thoughts?

keyman64

No. Most records were lost/destroyed. I do have the mint records from one year in the 1890s I think it was but I won't be able to post them until tonight...although I have posted them before so if I have time to search...maybe I can post them sooner.

I have consulted with a couple of heavy researchers including RWB. The records simply do not exist. I wish I had them for Mercury Dimes so as to analyze the dates with varieties.

phnatacc

The number of dies used by each mint per denomination is included in the Annual Report of the Director of the Mint. I picked 1880 at random through a Google Search.

UtahCoin

<< <i>The number of dies used by each mint per denomination is included in the Annual Report of the Director of the Mint. I picked 1880 at random through a Google Search. >>



Very good!
Thanks

CoinZip

I can give you that information for non proof Capped Bust Half Dollars.....

keyman64

<< <i>The number of dies used by each mint per denomination is included in the Annual Report of the Director of the Mint. I picked 1880 at random through a Google Search. >>

There was certainly some good info in there. There are different dates that have had data salvaged, no question about that. In that eBay link, from what I saw it listed the dies for each denomination but it did not break them down by obverse or reverse dies which is a key step in figuring out how rare a variety is potentially and that has been my desire for Mercury Dimes. I have been told by multiple people that most of the data simply does not exist unfortunately. Here is a key example of something I would love to have for Mercury Dimes. The following gives a beautiful snapshot into the San Fransisco Mint for 1896. For example, when you look at dimes you see 5 obverse dies were used and 4 reverse dies were used and then it tells you how many pieces each die produced. I found this to be very cool! Enjoy!