A little something for Proof Jefferson fans - 1939 Rev 1940
RogerB
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The following is a very brief excerpt from a research book on proof coins from 1936-1942.
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Comments
Very interesting.
Which reverse of 1939 carried over into 1940?
I've owned a PCGS PR66 example of this variety for many years - so I appreciate the background on this one.
Which research book is being referred to? I just might have to get a copy.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
I realize I won't get any clear answers to the following questions but here they are anyway. First, how did they come up with "Actual 17,000 All kinds" when the mintage has long been established at 12,482? Next, the total mintage of the first 3 reverse dies adds up to 956 coins higher than the total of the single first obverse die. So the obverse die #37 had to been used way before that stated November 7th date for those 956 extra coins struck with the 3rd reverse #38 die. And lastly, what's with the exact whole hundred numbers? 3 for the obverse dies 1600, 2500 and 500. The reverse, 3800 and 800. The first few numbers are more précised. It's like they estimated, guessed at or rounded off numbers. And than there's a 500 number jump between reverse die 39 and 539. Likely a notation number. It's possible the steps on die #39 were not striking up so...since they were retooling/making improvements to the steps at that time, they must have decided to stamp a few coins with the new reverse die and waa-la, we ended up with a low mintage variety with the reverse steps of 1940.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
As a proof, that really is a very attractive coin... Cheers, RickO
Leo - "17,000" is the total proof nickel pieces struck during 1939. Subtract from that defective and rejected coins to arrive at the reported mintage of 12,535. The heading information is worded this way because silver coins were subject to further reduction in quantity due to removal of Annual Assay specimens. The US Mint's published "mintage" refers only to the number of pieces delivered, but does not remove assay pieces, all of which were ordered destroyed.
The other quantities come directly from the Medal Clerk's ledgers and the proof die journal. The posted image is an excerpt, so the data tables are not complete.
The book is: United States Proof Coins 1936 – 1942, by Roger W. Burdette with a foreword by Q. David Bowers. I hope to have it printed in a couple of months. (The book has been ready for a year - but the money for printing has not.)
Curious about the odd reverse die number. Your 1940 chart starts with #41. Where is #40?
TD
Die numbers are not always consecutive or in series. They also cycle back to the Engraving Dept. for re-polishing and repair. The book includes all the available data.
Proof coin dies were identical to circulation production dies, until some were needed for making proof coins. At that point, the Engraving Department polished a few new dies and sent them to the Medal room for use. It appears that occasionally the Engraving Department set aside a group of dies specifically for proof use - note this with the quarters where proof and circ. coins use different reverse designs. At other times, dies were picked from those already made and polished for proof use. Usually dies were numbered once they were complete.