Bullion to Silver Dollar Sequence - New Orleans Mint 1897
RogerB
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This photo was arranged by the New Orleans Mint. It shows examples of the primary steps in converting raw silver bars into standard silver dollars. Notice in particular the difference in brightness between annealed planchets and ones that have been through the “Whitening Room.”
From back to front:
Silver pig bar (usually 0.999 fine)
Silver segmented bar (0.900 fine alloy; divisions allowed easy breakup and fast melting)
Ingot before rolling
Rolled strip (ingot after rolling)
Punched strip
Blanks
Planchets. Far left is before whitening; others after.
Coins
11
Comments
I wish they had shot it in color..
That is pretty cool. When I get a man-cave someday, I'd love to have a bunch of old photo's like these hanging all over the walls. They are just so cool. Thanks for sharing.
Would love to see that in color and with the raw ore behind it all.
bob;)
Thanks @RogerB
For teaching me more history and coin facts that I would not have learned elsewhere
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Insanely cool. Thanks for sharing.
Great photo. Thanks!
Great picture.... From bulk to finished product.... I would like to put together a set like that.... would not need such a huge pig bar or segmented bar.... but would be a great display piece... and clubs could use such a thing as a teaching tool... Cheers, RickO
People forget that the New Orleans Mint primarily processed Mexican silver. I believe (but can't cite a specific reference) that most of the silver which left Mexico was in the form of eight reales coins. If the New Orleans Mint had not existed, it is likely that Mexican silver dollars would have circulated in the South.
Where are the prolific silver mines in the Southern USA? They don't exist. New Orleans silver primarily came from Mexico.
Very interesting, thanks. The silver would have to be annealed several times, such as each course through the rolling mill, and the blanks were upset before whitening. It would be interesting to know what type of pickling solution was used to remove oxidation, and if flux was used before the annealing furnace. I would expect that for the early silver of the First Mint, the Mint used the pickling solution used by the local silversmiths.
Wow. Can you imagine what that would bring if it was an upcoming Heritage lot
RE: "t would be interesting to know what type of pickling solution was used to remove oxidation, and if flux was used before the annealing furnace."
I think the "standard" whitening formula is given in From Mint to Mint; check the CD index.
Flux was used in melting, not annealing or other heat treatment. They tried to exclude as much oxygen as possible, though.
On the ingot, before rolling, notice the cut on the left end. This facilitated introduction into the breakdown rolls. (More details in FMTM.)
Coolest thing I've seen in a while!
Thank you for posting this!
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Super cool photo. I'd love to own a blank... I'm sure they're out there but have never seen one.
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That's pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.
Nice! Thanks for sharing this.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Dollar blanks in silver, 40%, CuNi, and small dollars are known and available from Fred Weinberg (a member here) and others who focus on error coins.
Great post, Roger! Thanks!
Messydesk - It's OK to post it for your VAMpire friends, if you wish.
Wow! So cool.
So Very Cool Indeed! I took a tour of the NOLA Mint and it was Awesome! I traded my wife 2 days for 1 to be able to get that done...Her days were a Rum Distillery tour and Bayou Boating so not a bad trade after all