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Research into Gould and INCO Private Medalic Patterns – Collector Input Wanted

RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

As part of a long-term plan related to United States Pattern and Experimental pieces, a project has begun to describe and catalog all known varieties of the medalic private patterns made by Gould, Inc. and International Nickel Corp. (INCO). As some are aware, these companies prepared private pieces for the use of Congress and the Mint during consideration of various alloy changes in 1964-65 and 1976-78.


[Photo from PCGS Coinfacts.]

The goal is to lift the veil of confusion and inaccuracy surrounding these pieces, and to tell – as accurately and completely as possible – the story of their creation and use. (The prototype for this research is the book Pattern and Experimental Pieces of WW-II.)

The final product will be a printed booklet devoted to this subject – there’s likely not enough material extant to create a book-length treatment.

Information about pieces made by Gould and INCO, photos, documents, and especially direct knowledge or company reports, will be highly appreciated and appropriately acknowledged at publication.

Comments

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No info as yet.

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 31,499 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Message sent.

    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.
  • MWallaceMWallace Posts: 3,832 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I will PM you soon.

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Roger, & Mike,

    Roger, and Mike W.

    I forget I had this, and just found it in a corner of my office.
    (I bought it about 20-25 years ago at a coin show)

    It's a 7 inch long, 3 inch high, 3/4 inch thick piece of clear plastic.

    In it are 6 items from Inco, as follows: (appears to be a set of progessive planchets, etc.)

    1. A Clad "quarter' Blank w/copper core, hand-scratched on it "Item 1"

    2. Same as above, but the edge appears to be buffed or ? much brighter copper core -
      Hand-scratched on it "Item II"

    3. Same as above, but with a fairly deep groove on the edge, possibly to show the
      copper core better? Hand-Scratched on it "Item III"

    4. Quarter size blank, no copper core (does not look plated), Hand-scratched "Item IV"

    5. A struck INCO test piece, with "International Nickel Company Inc. Dedicated 1964" with
      their corporate offices/building on one side, and "Paul D. Merica Laboratory" and his
      portrait, and "Item V" scratched into it.

    6. A Clad 'quarter' planchet with a very strange wide upset rim, and Hand-scratched "Item VI"

    With it, but separate, is a 38 mm/1.5 inch struck INCO Medal with "50 Years of Inco Research
    1924-1974, and "International Nickel Company, Inc" and their building, on the other side.

    I haven't checked my Pattern files yet to see if I have any old articles about them, but I'd be
    glad to ship these items to you for your research.

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fred,
    That would be great to include. Things like this can add a lot to telling the complete story of these privately made pieces.

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Roger,

    You have my email address.

    Please send me your address, and I'll be glad to mail
    the plastic set and larger medal to you for your research.

    Keep them as long as you need........

    Fred

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    OK. Thanks a bunch!

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A little background on these kinds of "private patterns."

    Since the 1870s, the Mint and Treasury dept have engaged outside individuals and companies to comment or test proposed coinage. A. Loudoun Snowden provided extensive comments on Morgan's dollar design in 1877 and 1878; Hobbs Mfg. Corp. complained about the Buffalo nickel to the point of delaying its introduction from September 1912 to Feb. 1913; AT&T was solicited to test new design dimes in their pay telephones in August 1916 with the result that the entire first production was condemned and the design revised. (These are described in the books Renaissance of American Coinage 1909-1915, and Renaissance of American Coinage 1916-1921.)

    As use of coin operated machines increased the Mint was under considerable pressure to accommodate vending machine manufacturers. The WW-II nickel alloy was the direct result of vending industry claims that a 50-50 AgCu nickel wouldn't work in their new machines. When Treasury wanted to replace silver in coinage in 1964, they decided to look for something that created as little disruption for vending machines and pay telephones as possible. Hence, INCO and others proposed coinage metals and various metals were tested. Something similar happened when the change to a small size dollar coin was proposed in 1976 resulting in the Gould, Inc. pieces made with powdered metal technology.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks for the information Roger. I imagine that significant changes to coinage can create all sorts of issues, both within the mint and in other business venues (i.e. vending machines). I notice now that cash registers no longer seem to have slots for half dollars... well, some of them don't.... I guess since they rarely circulate, the register companies have noted and instituted modifications. Cheers, RickO

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 20, 2017 11:46AM

    @RogerB

    I recently picked up a cent-sized possible Gould pattern from exo on the bay which was auctioned with a dollar planchet and a few other Gould pieces of his. I'm not sure if he has more pieces. I also have one of the 1964 INCO experimental alloy pieces. Mine is similar to the photo from USPatterns.com but isn't etched. I used it as one of my previous avatars here.

    Here are exo's photos from the bay for the cent-sized piece and planchet. Is exo a member here?

    Gould possible cent

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Possible-Pattern-Cent-Gould-Incorporated-Logo-Pollock-Unlisted-/382093639591

    Gould dollar planchet - I was the underbidder on this

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pattern-Coin-Blank-Gould-Incorporated-Dollar-Blank-Pollock-Unlisted-/352064610504

    1964 INCO experimental alloy piece from USPatterns.com - mine is similar but unetched

    http://uspatterns.stores.yahoo.net/p5195.html

    If the Gould cent-sized piece and the INCO piece would be useful for your research, I can mail them to you.

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 20, 2017 10:49AM

    Thanks!

    if you can take accurate weight (grams), diameter and thickness (mm) that will be very helpful. I've copied the photos posted above. The one-cent size logo pieces should be approximately 2.25g, 19mm dia, and 2.24mm thick (incl the logo). A photo of your INCO test piece might also be useful.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I just noticed the seller had posted some information in the catalog for the cent-sized logo piece:

    Cent-sized logo piece:

    • Diameter: 19mm
    • Weight: 34.88 grains, 2.26 grams
    • Composition: Titanium
    • Catalog #: Pollock 5440

    Blank planchet:

    • Diameter: 26.3mm
    • Weight: 65.59 grains, 4.25 grams
    • Composition: Titanium
    • Catalog #: Pollock Unlisted

    I'm working on getting the ability to do proper measurements myself.

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 25, 2017 9:36AM

    This is likely too much but hopefully it will be useful. This is how I measure coins sent to me for evaluation. Photos of all three sides are also made.

    First, visit a large art supply store and buy a 1/2-inch high quality sable brush. Use this to gently brush the surfaces of items before you weigh and measure them. Never blow on them. If you want to use pressurized air in place of the brush, make sure it is 100% free of moisture. Always wash and dry your hands before starting measurements. At this level of accuracy skin coin transferred to the coin can be measured; also, oil will contaminate the edge of the coin.

    A good goal is to have a digital scale with accurate readout to 0.001 gram, one-button calibration and auto "tare" function; and digital calipers measuring to 0.01 mm with reset/calibration function. Dense nylon or steel external jaws. (Some devices measure to 0.001 but display only 0.01. Use the same procedures for all.)

    Procedure is simple but a little tedious: Measure weight with the scale on a firm, level surface away from drafts or obvious vibrations. For weight, cut a slip of paper slightly larger than the coins you want to measure. Turn up one edge and place this slip o the scale. Press the 'tare' button - this will 'zero' the scale with the paper in place. gently drop the coin flat onto the paper (never direct onto the scale). Do not touch the scale or table. Allow the weight to stabilize, then record the full readout value. Repeat 10 times.

    For diameter place the coin on a smooth, non-abrasive surface (piece of mylar is good). Open the caliper jaws a little wider than the coin diameter. Tilt the jaws at about a 45-degree angle. Using the tips of the caliper jaws, measure the diameter from 6:00 to 12:00 o'clock. Repeat 10 times. Do the same from 3:00 to 9:00 o'clock. (Why diagonal? Some calipers have a very narrow jaw edge that can fit between the reeds on a coin, thus giving misleading measurements. Also be aware that sometimes the caliper jaw edge will span two raised reeds. Averaging measurement will help obviate this error. Legal diameter of reeded edge coins are from the top of reeding on the edge. Thickness is from rim-to-rim.)

    For thickness, support the coin in its edge between two slips of mylar. Measure the thickness at the rim at the 6:00 or 12:00 position. Again, use 10 measurements; then repeat at either 3:00 or 9:00 o'clock.

    To obtain a reliable mean for all measurements, put your data into columns in Excel or some other good spreadsheet. Next, remove the greatest and least values - i.e. highest and lowest. This will leave 8 data points for each set of measurements. All each column of 8 measurements and divide by 8. This will be the mean (or average) value for each of the physical characteristics. Last, Round all 3-decimal values to two decimal places, This helps correct for unavoidable inconsistencies in measurement and internal calculations in the scale and calipers. (Even your own breath, or air moved by your hand can result in false data at this level of measurement.)

    I know this sounds like a lot to do - and it is. But the rewards are reliable measurements that pass the test of time and validation by others.

    I also remeasure any data set that has variations greater than +/-0.03.

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A minor bump in case new info is floating about.

    Interestingly, I've examined pieces that are identical in appearance, diameter and thickness, yet differ by 50% in density. These will require deeper testing.

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 8, 2017 4:41PM

    Getting to the difficult part of research now. Have identified some pieces in molybdenum and zirconium. Almost the only thing they didn't test was the kitchen sink -- oops.....stainless steel pieces, too.

    Anything come up in the past week from members?

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2, 2021 6:04PM

    Posting some additional information to this thread since this is the one Google finds the most easily!

    Thanks to Roger @RogerB and Julian @therealjulian for doing research in this area which was both used for the book and sold recently by Heritage. I wish the pieces had the Burdette / Leidman provenance on the slabs and/or lot descriptions, but we'll need to use the auction history for now. Hopefully definitive list of the B-L coins can be made one day!

    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1065348/modern-patterns#latest

    These are all certified by NGC using Roger's new RB numbers.

    Does anyone know if PCGS will certify these?

    1964 Half Dollar Pattern - by INCO - NGC NGC MS66 POP 0/2/0 - RB 2700 - Ex. Roger W. Burdette & Julian Leidman

    Here's a nice 50 cent pattern from the collection. The half dollar sized coins seem fairly rare with only 2 present while there were many more quarter sized pieces.

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 31,499 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What does the "101-12" signify?

    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.
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 31,499 ✭✭✭✭✭

    FWIW, my INCO Paul D. Merica half dollar has the same rotated reverse, but nothing in the field.

    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.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2, 2021 6:08PM

    @CaptHenway said:
    What does the "101-12" signify?

    I’m not sure yet. Roger would say buy the book of course! And I would love to, but in electronic form. I asked Roger to publish in PDF or Kindle but he’s not ready to do that yet.

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 31,499 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Zoins said:

    @CaptHenway said:
    What does the "101-12" signify?

    I’m not sure yet. Roger would say buy the book of course! And I would love to, but in electronic form. I asked Roger to publish in PDF or Kindle but he’s not ready to do that yet.

    The book just says “This might be a test batch number.”

    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.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 3, 2021 6:50AM

    @CaptHenway said:
    FWIW, my INCO Paul D. Merica half dollar has the same rotated reverse, but nothing in the field.

    By the way, great piece! I'll have to keep an eye out for a non-engraved one too!

    I haven't decided if being engraved or not is better from a collection pespective. I think both have their allure so right now I think it's good to have one of each!

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 3, 2021 6:53AM

    Wow Tom! I didn't realize how central you are to these pieces!

    Here's a description of the book:

    This full color volume contains in-depth research on all known varieties of private pattern piece made by International Nickel Corp. (Inco) and Gould, Inc.

    In response to economic events affecting the nation's coinage, Inco and Gould attempted to develop solutions to specific problems. The private patterns are placed within their historical context and the commercial goals of both companies. Inco, by addressing the replacement of silver coinage in the United States from 1964-65, sought to increase the amount of nickel used in our coinage. Gould, Inc. proposed changing to powdered metal technology in 1976-78 and advocated use of compressed and sintered titanium in small size dollar coins. Although neither company was successful, they left a fascinating legacy of design, alloy and layered composition test pieces similar in size to standard U.S. coins.

    Numismatist Tom Delorey was the first to write about Inco private pattern pieces in 1981. Former Inco employee Kenn Henderson followed with several articles in 1985 – more than 30 years ago. Andrew Pollock followed with updated and numbered varieties in his 1994 book United States Patterns and Related Issues. Pollock also added private patterns made in 1976-78 by Gould, Inc. for a proposed small-size dollar coin.

    This new volume fills in numerous omissions and discrepancies in the original Pollock publication, and greatly expands the variety listings. Extensive concordance tables cross reference Pollock variety numbers with new, more extensive RB numbers. The new variety numbering also has wide intervals between items so that new discoveries may be added without disturbing the existing sequence. This will aid in establishing the correct variety description, while facilitating improved variety identification.

    Mr. Burdette's careful documentation, thorough investigation and factual reporting are as educational as they are professional. Readers will understand the importance of the subject, and be afforded a comprehensive reference guide to Inco and Gould patterns previously non-existent. This is the definitive work that supplants and incorporates all earlier efforts. The images are crisp and clear, the charts easy to navigate and the detailed, clearly understandable scientific explanations of material processes will leave the reader with a profound knowledge and few unanswered questions, if any.

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