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WLH Adolph Alexander Weinman Hand Engraved Initials FS-901

ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,079 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited November 15, 2016 1:54AM in U.S. Coin Forum

I just ran across the following with hand engraved initials by Adolph Alexander Weinman. There seem to be a number of these.

What is the story behind them? How many are engraved? When were they engraved? Why were they engraved? :)

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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I do not have an answer to your question, however, that is a very attractive Walker.... Cheers, RickO

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    RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Do you mean re-cutting of the AAW monogram on the reverse? Can you post a detailed photo?

    [This is discussed and illustrated in the 1936-42 proof coin book. Maybe I can pull some info that will help answer your question.]

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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 31,602 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It has been assumed (with the usual caveats about assumptions) that somebody at the Denver Mint accidentally overpolished a die and in doing so removed the raised lines that form the normal monogram, and then attempted to repair the die by cutting depressed lines in the die that left a differently-shaped monogram.

    This is probably what happened, but I will hold open the possibility that the polishing and re-engraving was done at the Philadelphia Mint's engraving department to salvage the die before it was then shipped out to Denver. There was a war on, and why waste good die steel? The re-engraving was fairly well done, and escaped notice by collectors for over half a century.

    TD

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
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    RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 15, 2016 10:37AM

    The following excerpts from the half dollar sections of the 1936-1942 proof book might be helpful. Although the comments refer to proof coins, It appears that re-engraving of Weinman's monogram was done at the Philadelphia Mint. Although there is speculation that this was also done at Denver and/or San Francisco, confirmation would require careful comparison of examples from all three mints. (Proofs were more susceptible to loss of detail due to polishing - a treatment not given to circulation manufacture dies.)

    Zoins, does this answer your question?

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    WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭

    The Cherry Pickers Guide lists the 1944-D hand engraved designer’s initials and also the 1945 without designer’s initials.

    Since the designers initials were incused on the coin, that meant they were raised on the working die and suseptiable to be removed during polishing. Since the Denver coin was discovered to have re-engraved initials, it would be logical that die sinkers a the Denver Mint did the repairs...with logical being the operative word.

    Chat Board Lingo

    "Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
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    RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    There were no die sinkers at Denver or San Francisco Mints. Only the Coiner, his assistant, the operations foreman and die setter handled working dies. The style and quality of workmanship might help link alterations to a specific mint. Strengthening of the monogram was delicate work.

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    RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Also, strengthening a raised detail on a die was extremely difficult to do.

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    mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @RogerB said:
    Also, strengthening a raised detail on a die was extremely difficult to do.

    Makes complete sense.

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