What is the typical lifespan of a coin die?

ccr · October 13, 2003 6:18AM

With all the coinage being minted now and through the past decades, I`m just curious on how long they last before they are replaced. Not the Master Die of course but, the typical die that punches out the design of the coin in the machine press. 50,000 coins? 100,000? 1,000,000 before they are too worn out?

Shamika · October 13, 2003 6:26AM

I believe I heard that the average life span of a modern die is 100,000. But I really don't know.

cladking · October 13, 2003 7:10AM

It has varied a lot over the years and the denominations. Where a cent die may easily
strike a million coins a states quarter die rarely makes it to 500,000. There is normally
a fairly wide variation between even like dies.

numonebuyer · October 13, 2003 7:46AM

Doesn't it really matter what metal is being stamped. For example, I would suppose that Platinum or Nickel coins probably wear out dies faster than gold.

Numonebuyer

nwcs · October 13, 2003 8:55AM

Yes, a die striking nickel planchets doesn't last as long as a die striking a softer metal. Also, the smaller the coin the longer the die can last (if I remember right) because the pressure needed to bring up the design is less (due to the smaller design) than a larger coin.

GDJMSP · October 13, 2003 1:09PM

Information on the number of coins struck by a given die before it is replaced can be found in this article in Coin World. However the article only deals with State Quarters. But it does provide an idea of average die life.

Mintage numbers per die

Conder101 · October 14, 2003 5:20AM

Figures from a Coin World story from back before the state quarters were

Cent 750,000 - 1,000,000
Nickel 200,000
Dime 500,000
quarter 300,000
half 300,000
dollar 300,000

ccr · October 14, 2003 5:24AM

Thanks for all the good information!

What is the typical lifespan of a coin die?

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