Proof coin detail view - 1911
RogerB
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We usually approach proof coins - those shiny baubles made for sale to collectors - from the perspective of quantity made per year. But actual manufacture by the Medal Department was in small batches, with no clear assurance that every batch was identical to the previous one.
Here's a sample of proof coin manufacturing for 1911 as compiled from multiple sources. It includes cents through double eagles. Hope members find it interesting.
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Comments
I'll bet they were responding to orders from large dealers of the era. Interesting chart!
To answer a question -- Die polishing was a pre-stamping activity that was done frequently. One would expect the results to be uniform across several manufacturing batches. However, sandblasting gold was post-stamping and done individually on an irregular schedule. Skilled workmen might have applied the finish uniformly to coins made one day, but might have used different grit on coins made four months later. In the example above 54 proof eagles made Jan 16 might not have been identical to 46 made and sandblasted on May 20.
More interesting information Roger... Thanks... Cheers, RickO
Roger,
Great info. I would imagine production at the mint(s) was similar to most production done in other manufacturing facilities in that it could vary greatly not just from day to day, but between the different shifts (assuming they had multiple shifts working). I've been in manufacturing for over 30 years and I've found this to be true especially if the keep personnel were out due to vacation or illness that production for that day may be substandard compared to a day when all the key personnel are working. Working for almost 34 years exclusively on second shift I've found that production on a Friday night can be often troublesome. Maybe it's people thinking about the weekend and not focusing on their job.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
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divecchia --
Yep. Spot on comments. Too many collectors forget that the Mints were factories, although highly specialized and with very tight production tolerances.
Roger, I wonder what original cost from the mint was for those (110) 1911 Gold Saint Gaudens Double Eagles, with a face value of only $2200?
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
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I think it was $20.50 or $20.75 for the single coin plus registered mail/postage.
Thanks, Roger,
That chart helps to coalesce some observations I've made about coloration and faceting on sandblast proofs.
1911 is THE year for sparkling granularity on sandblast gold.
I've particularly noted color variations in '08 gold. Is that chart available?
30 years ago a bunch of us could identify the year of 08-15 "matte gold" from the reverse. 1908's always gave me the most trouble. This year is THE year for persistent fugliness.
@MrEureka warned me the Smithsonian Lilly coins would suck for reference. VERY SAD
They were ill-stored before DC got them, and need knowledgeable conservation beginning with physical and chemical analysis of the gunk on most of them.
CoinFacts has lots of good to great images on 08-15 proof gold but, even more so on these issues in particular, in-hand rotation is essential to any informed appreciation. More than 50% in existence have been screwed with.
Fortunately, the Lilly coins are duplicates for the Smithsonian. They also have a set that came directly from the Mint, and those coins are a virtually perfect reference for those who want to see what original matte proof gold is supposed to look like.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
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Thanks for filling me in on that six(?) years later when you were there in the room with me commiserating over the dreck
Well-played, sir. Well-played.
OTOH, quite seriously, I'd love a 1908 ledger if an image is available.
No need for a table for 1908 gold proofs. All were made November 14 and delivered on November 25; and 101 of each were sold. Quality should be uniform over each denomination.
Letter 11/14/1908 by Leach from Norris: 500 sets gold made.
Letter 8/29/1910 to Andrew from Woodin: 101 gold sets sold.
Dipping a sandblast proof is especially damaging because of the large exposed surface created by the grit. Total surface area is estimated at nearly 3-times that of a brilliant proof. Color must be evaluated under strictly controlled conditions with absolutely no fluorescent or mercury vapor lights nearby (within 50 meters or less). Forget about examining for color at a typical bourse, coin show, or office.
Here is 1909. Start with DE on left, end with cent on right, then data source. Gray column = obsolete denomination.
1909 - alternate format that might be easier on the eyes.
The S-G $20 series proofs also include at least 1 doubled die and 2 pieces that were double struck. Quality varies from excellent to "sloppy."
500 1908 gold sets were produced, ergo 500 $20's were made. 101 sold. Every piece need not have been sold as part of a set, nor in the order they were produced.
Is that the highest production day ever for proof gold? Helluva task to refine your sandblasting technique across 2000 coins in one day. How many pounds of sand?
RedBook figures show 236,167,116,101. I'm assuming those are the individual sales but not necessarily 101 complete 4-piece groupings, and no mention of the excess of the lower denominations sold seems an lapse of some sort.
Can I get a personal inscription for my copy of Renaissance?
Contemporary correspondence suggests that Superintendent Joyce was expecting a large demand from coin collectors for sandblast proofs of the new designs. It was likely simpler to make 500 of each denomination so that additional coins would not have to be made.
Manufacture was probably a 1-day break for the Medal Department. These proofs required no advance die work - no polishing. The dies were normal production dies, used in a high pressure medal press and each getting one blow. It might have taken 10 to 15-seconds to strike each coin.
Sandblasting was normal work for the Medal Dept. They had a lazy-susan type of holder which allowed quick blasting of several coins at one time. This was similar to other jigs used for medals.
Overall work flow was possibly something like this: begin striking proofs, when a small tray was filled, give to sandblasters, blast, put back on tray, give to packagers to slip in celluloid envelopes. As soon as one denomination was complete, switch to the next and adjust press.
Thanks