Saturday Afternoon trivia question. 1955 DD Answered

WoodenJefferson · October 28, 2006 3:13AM

Although the US Mint discovered the 1955 double-die cent error on the day of striking, Mint officials nevertheless released many of them into circulation. Why?

I will post the answer later in the day.

Sorry, no prizes, no gimmicks/give-aways...test your knowledge.

Leiana · October 28, 2006 3:17AM

I believe I read that there was a shortage of cents at the time.

-Amanda

SilverEagles92 · October 28, 2006 3:17AM

Because they couldn't resist!

clw54 · October 28, 2006 3:20AM

Because they got mixed in with a lot of other cents.

1921obsession · October 28, 2006 3:31AM

<< Because they got mixed in with a lot of other cents. >>

Many had already left the mint when they were discovered, so a decision was taken to release the rest.

Coxe · October 28, 2006 3:42AM

<< I believe I read that there was a shortage of cents at the time.

-Amanda >>

Yes. The Mint was under pressure to cut costs. The had closed down the San Francisco and Denver mints in 1954 for months on end and overall production at each of the three mints was very low. In 1955, there was increased demand for cents. The stocks of them ran out quickly. The Mint, still under pressure to reduce their budget, extended the workday and workweek to feverishly produce as quickly and cheaply as possible. For that reason, quality necessarily declined significantly, producing a number of varieties as a consequence. The disgruntled employees, having to work longer and harder for not much more compensation, could not care less what went out the door.

ar18 · October 28, 2006 3:44AM

They were mixed with other cents mostly and there was a cent shortage due to a hurricane I believe.

Jcarney · October 28, 2006 3:45AM

They were mixed in with a very large run of cents and the whole lot would have to be trashed and the production made up. On Christmas Eve.

50cents · October 28, 2006 3:49AM

<< They were mixed with other cents mostly and there was a cent shortage due to a hurricane I believe. >>

JRocco · October 28, 2006 4:05AM

Numbers baby numbers----they needed those coins and returning them would have put that big ol flame squarely under someones butt (or should I say their job)

ABC123 · October 28, 2006 4:55AM

GOOGLE Time !

WoodenJefferson · October 28, 2006 5:36AM

clw54 is on the right track, 1921obsession has the last half right, I don't know about a hurrican or Christmas Eve...but here's the answer:

Q: Although the US Mint discovered the 1955 double-die cent error on the day of striking, Mint officials nevertheless released many of them into circulation. Why?

A: The discovery of this error was made in the afternoon, and many of the coins had already been mixed in with the output of other dies. Although a box of 40,000 was destroyed, about 24,000 were released.

It would ber interesting to find exactly what day this was and perhaps the weather conditions?

Jcarney · October 28, 2006 5:59AM

<< It would ber interesting to find exactly what day this was >>

It was Christmas Eve.

WoodenJefferson · October 28, 2006 6:02AM

It would help to have some source material to confirm that, you know how this forum is

MFH · October 28, 2006 6:06AM

<< They were mixed with other cents mostly and there was a cent shortage due to a hurricane I believe. >>

I believe this sums it up.

Coxe · October 28, 2006 6:39AM

<< 

<< It would ber interesting to find exactly what day this was >>

It was Christmas Eve. >>

And they were recovering from a hurricaine (Diane, if memory serves me).

Oney · October 28, 2006 6:41AM

I think the hurricane was the concern and a shortage of coinage.

Jcarney · October 28, 2006 7:16AM

<< It would help to have some source material to confirm that, you know how this forum is >>

I know, I know.....I'm digging! I can't find the article/book I saw that in.

WoodenJefferson · October 28, 2006 7:24AM

Hurricane Diane - August 17-19, 1955
On August 10, a cyclonic circulation was noted northeast of the Leeward Islands with tropical storm force winds.
Reconnaissance aircraft found the tropical storm the next day, which had not increased in intensity. On the night
of the 11th, the system turned northeast and rapidly intensified. By the 12th, Diane was a major hurricane, though
its eye was elongated elongated significantly to the northeast, possibly due to its northeast propagation around a
nearby upper cyclone. Its cyclonic path ended on the 13th, when Diane resumed its west-northwest track. It
slowly turned northwest, striking near Wilmington, North Carolina on the 17th. Floods in New England led to
Diane becoming the first hurricane with $1 billion in damage, with about 200 people losing their lives in the
flood from Pennsylvania east-northeast through southern New England. The rainfall map below for Hurricane
Diane was created by Paul Kocin.

morgansforever · October 28, 2006 7:26AM

<<They were mixed with other cents mostly and there was a cent shortage due to a hurricane I believe>>.

Thats the same story I have heard over the years.

FredWeinberg · October 28, 2006 7:28AM

I can't remember the source, but I know that
I read from at least one or two publications
(possibly an early Dave Bowers column, or in
the description of the coin, when B&R were
selling them in the late 50's, that in addition
to the Mint knowning that some got mixed
in with normal coins, the Mint made a conscious
decision to release them because.................

They (The Mint in Pa.) truly felt that no one would ever notice them !!

(true story, wish I could remember where I've read it,
more than once!)

WoodenJefferson · October 28, 2006 7:32AM

Fred, since your around, can you please explain the term you used,

"White Elephant"

FredWeinberg · October 28, 2006 10:57AM

Sorry for the delayed answer.

I like to use the term "White Elephant Error", which
is based on the old custom, in India, and where-
ever Elephants were trained and kept as special
animals - that a "royal" visiting another ruler,who
he did not like, would give the other ruler a White
Elephant, which was revered and considered special
by the Royal Party.

The receiving ruler couldn't use the Elephant for any
normal labor use, because it would have been rude/disrepectful,
BUT, still have to feed it, house it,and take care of it -

Which turned outt to be an expensive proposition for an
animal you couldn't do anything with.

So to me, as an example, a One Ounce Gold American
Eagle, with a common Struck-Thru on it, is a Classic
White Elephant Error - the coin is worth more than the
error on it.....

Like the Elephant is more "costly" than it would be as a
normal Elephant that could be used in normal commerce.
or in our case, as a numismatic error, instead of an Ounce
of Gold.

Hope that makes some sense to all - It's a nice "short-hand term" that maybe only
I like to use, and hope it doesn't confuse........ (I'm a poet, and I don't know it....etc.)

Fred

WoodenJefferson · October 28, 2006 11:13AM

Thank you Mr. Weinberg...that clears it up. Conder101, I think had about the same answer, but this is from the perverbial "horses mouth"

again thanks for responding.

Saturday Afternoon trivia question. 1955 DD Answered

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