Early 19th century minting terminology: "Water"?
MrEureka
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I recently read a firsthand quote on early 19th Century minting in which it was said that "water started (from the sides of the dies) at the first blow, and the dies cracked." What did he mean by "water"? My guess is that he meant "die erosion", because the effects of die erosion look like erosion caused by water, but I'm just guessing. Does anyone here actually KNOW what was meant?
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
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Never heard it used this way.
Perhaps as in "to ripple?" Just a WAG.
Would have to see the full document (original, not a transcription) and know the context of it to possibly understand the meaning. It might also be a clerk's mis-hearing of something dictated to him.
No but we can guess it’s a typo
What started from the side of the die happen with the first strike.
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Checked my database. No mention of "water" except in the expected contexts.
Wonder if it could mean a wavy die surface developing from a die not properly hardened. Recall reading Gallery Mint Museum write about that problem, but never saw the term "water" used anywhere by anybody.
Just that the sound of that term brings to mind some die varieties on later large cents (and probably other series) that have quickly developed a wavy surface. Seems like most of those were scarce or rare varieties, though I don't recall seeing cracked dies being part of it. Those almost seemed to be pulled after too much sinking rather than cracking, So "water" may not refer to that. Just guessing at one possibility.
Maybe Daniel Carr would have some insight into what could ever potentially be described that way in dealing with his dies.
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
like 'water erosion' sounds plausible.
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
That's what I meant by "ripple."
Ah, Ripple, the wine of my youth!
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Somebody post a "Mint Drop" token.
That almost seems as if it were an error either in printing or interpretation... Though I cannot imagine what term may have been intended....Cheers, RickO
The obvious answer hit me this morning: "Wear"!
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Andy, Can you post an image of the original document?
I don't have it yet. Working on it.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Wild guess here- Could the water have been unnoticed condensation on the dies? I'm thinking cold dies, warm air...... Under huge compression it was enough to see squirt out? Just throwing out food for thought.
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RE: " it was said that 'water started (from the sides of the dies) at the first blow, and the dies cracked.' "
This clearly refers to the "waiter" serving dinner to Annual Assay Commission members, who had gotten into a fight. As the first blows fell, the waiter dropped dishes (misread as 'dies') which hit the floor and cracked. It's all so very simple.....Now, about those 1.5 million people on the National Mall Jan.20, 2017.
It was ripply. Believe it or not.