Carson City Mint Assay Commission

AUandAG · May 18, 2020 9:49AM

Anyone have any information as to who was on this commission? Three coins were struck for them in 1870 and given as gifts. This is in addition to the other three coins struck for President Grant, Governor Blasdel and Matt Rinckel. Just looking for that info if anyone would happen to have. I'm about to exhaust my search...
thanks, stay safe,
bob

PS: I have my ideas but no concrete evidence.

johnny9434 · May 18, 2020 10:22AM

Is there any archives on what your looking for? Just wondering

CaptHenway · May 18, 2020 11:35AM

What do you mean “Assay Commission?” The “Assay Commission” was a very specific government body that met every February in Philadelphia.

AUandAG · May 18, 2020 12:22PM

There was a three panel assay commission set up by Director Curry. I don't know who participated but need that info if I can find it. It had nothing to do with Philadelphia. Apparently it was Curry's idea to do this. I have reference to the commission but don't know who they were and what was their actual goal.
bob

ricko · May 19, 2020 6:10AM

Have you checked the Carson City Mint archives or the Carson City Public Library?? Those can often provide such obscure information. Cheers, RickO

CaptHenway · May 19, 2020 8:06AM

What is your source for the reference? The gentleman who collaborated with me on the 1873-S Dollar story, Dan Owens, has done extensive research into the SF and CC archives.

CaptHenway · May 19, 2020 8:08AM

I’ll ask Roger Burdette and report back.

CaptainBlunt · May 19, 2020 8:57AM

Are you referring to some sort of
Official body or ceremonial group? In other words did this Commission have Minting and or Assaying experience?

I know that the local press stated that George Tufly the hotel proprietor and prominent local figure in CC was parading around with what he claimed was the first silver dollar struck at CC in 1870.

He stated Curry had lent it too him.
He passed away in Feb. 1891, I don’t know if he kept the piece. Tufly Ex State Treasurer, St. Charles hotel proprietor...etc

Not much CC Mint material survives from this time period. Perhaps someone like RW Julian or RWB
could offer more insight.

AUandAG · May 19, 2020 9:40AM

@ricko said:
Have you checked the Carson City Mint archives or the Carson City Public Library?? Those can often provide such obscure information. Cheers, RickO

There are no archives at the public library in CC (not that I've ever been able to locate).
bob

Jimnight · May 19, 2020 9:46AM

Sorry.

AUandAG · May 19, 2020 9:54AM

@CaptHenway said:
What is your source for the reference? The gentleman who collaborated with me on the 1873-S Dollar story, Dan Owens, has done extensive research into the SF and CC archives.

It is handwritten in my notes without the reference. Along with the notes are notes from Weimar White and some from the Liberty Seated Dollar info from PCGS's site.

After re-reading them I find that Curry could have been referring to the Commission in Philly. Even though he's talking about local events and not stuff in the east. Perhaps I've taken it out of context. Thanks for looking and I'll just keep trucking along...

PS: researching is not easy when crap is spread all over hell and back!

bob > @CaptainBlunt said:

Are you referring to some sort of
Official body or ceremonial group? In other words did this Commission have Minting and or Assaying experience?

I know that the local press stated that George Tufly the hotel proprietor and prominent local figure in CC was parading around with what he claimed was the first silver dollar struck at CC in 1870.

He stated Curry had lent it too him.
He passed away in Feb. 1891, I don’t know if he kept the piece. Tufly Ex State Treasurer, St. Charles hotel proprietor...etc

Not much CC Mint material survives from this time period. Perhaps someone like RW Julian or RWB
could offer more insight.

Curry was a braggart of sorts. It appears he presented six or maybe a few more to individuals saying it was the first coin struck. I know that he did so to Rinckel, Doten, Blasdel and the editor of the Appeal (forget his name). Had not heard this one to Tuffy, but likely it happened. Curry was proud of them for sure and liked that feather in his cap.

bob

CaptHenway · May 19, 2020 10:26AM

I emailed Roger B. He says that the term is unknown to him in this context.

AUandAG · May 19, 2020 10:42AM

@CaptHenway said:
I emailed Roger B. He says that the term is unknown to him in this context.

Thanks Capt. appreciate the help, as always.

bob

CaptainBlunt · May 19, 2020 8:10PM

Yes Curry May have been referring to Philadelphia regarding the Assay Commission

I never understood the mintage figures for the 1870CC
silver dollars

Red book, Breen Encyclopedia etc it was listed at
12,462 pieces

My notes (rough)
In Statistics of Mines and Mining
Raymond 1872
The coinage was listed as follows:
Feb 3,747
March 4,491
April 500
May 600
June 2,820
July zero
August 304
Total 12,462

Scholars like Julian have read the actual record books and came up with
11,758

These pieces were struck to meet depositor demand usually
there had to be some sort of a specific silver depositor demand for them
They were looked upon as a novelty in CA and probably beyond
and traded for more than their face value a true souvenir of the West and Comstock silver

denga · May 20, 2020 5:56AM

At one point it was thought that the mintage was 11,758, based on the monthly
reports made by Superintendent Abraham Curry to Mint Director James Pollock.
It twas later discovered that these official reports were wrong for two months,
March and August. The figures reported by CaptainBlunt are correct and the total
is 12,462. A discussion of this matter may be found in the Gobrecht Journal, Issue
125 of March 2016. The figure in the Red Book is wrong.

Carson City Mint Assay Commission

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