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Interesting information about the Ultra High Relief Double Eagle at the upcoming Heritage sale
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
I did not know this about the annealing process for the Ultra High Relief Double Eagles. Here is some information from an email from Heritage. It is interesting that the end result is a layer of pure gold on the coins. Does anyone know whether that was a goal of the annealing process, or was it merely the result because the coin had to be annealed between each striking?
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This Ultra High Relief double eagle was struck seven times on a medal press in order to fully bring up every detail in the dies. It was annealed between strikings, heating the coin to a cherry-red color and then cooling it in a weak solution of nitric acid. This annealing process gave Ultra High Reliefs an even more distinctive appearance, as the result was a bright surface of nearly pure gold with no variation in appearance between the fields and devices. The 'finish' of the Ultra High Relief transcends terms such as "satiny" or "frosted" - it is simply pure, glittering gold. Charles Barber, Chief Engraver of the Mint, certainly objected to the interference of outsiders such as Saint-Gaudens, but the lengthy, exacting production process for these Ultra High Relief coins made them impractical for commercial purposes. That the spirit of Saint-Gaudens' des ign survived the evolution of the double eagle through the 'regular' High Reliefs and thence to lower relief coins was to the artistic benefit of the nation.
The surfaces of the incredible coin we are privileged to offer are bright orange-gold. As mentioned above, this finish is the product of repeated annealings, which resulted in the eventual elimination of all copper from the alloy and a thin layer of pure gold over both obverse and reverse. The striking details are nothing short of extraordinary also with an even more pronounced, dished, three-dimensional effect than seen on a regular High Relief. After several minutes of examining this piece with a strong magnifier we finally were able to locate one surface flaw that might be used as a pedigree identifier for this important coin: There is a short, diagonal luster graze on the reverse between the eagle's head and the forward curve of the wing.
***************
This Ultra High Relief double eagle was struck seven times on a medal press in order to fully bring up every detail in the dies. It was annealed between strikings, heating the coin to a cherry-red color and then cooling it in a weak solution of nitric acid. This annealing process gave Ultra High Reliefs an even more distinctive appearance, as the result was a bright surface of nearly pure gold with no variation in appearance between the fields and devices. The 'finish' of the Ultra High Relief transcends terms such as "satiny" or "frosted" - it is simply pure, glittering gold. Charles Barber, Chief Engraver of the Mint, certainly objected to the interference of outsiders such as Saint-Gaudens, but the lengthy, exacting production process for these Ultra High Relief coins made them impractical for commercial purposes. That the spirit of Saint-Gaudens' des ign survived the evolution of the double eagle through the 'regular' High Reliefs and thence to lower relief coins was to the artistic benefit of the nation.
The surfaces of the incredible coin we are privileged to offer are bright orange-gold. As mentioned above, this finish is the product of repeated annealings, which resulted in the eventual elimination of all copper from the alloy and a thin layer of pure gold over both obverse and reverse. The striking details are nothing short of extraordinary also with an even more pronounced, dished, three-dimensional effect than seen on a regular High Relief. After several minutes of examining this piece with a strong magnifier we finally were able to locate one surface flaw that might be used as a pedigree identifier for this important coin: There is a short, diagonal luster graze on the reverse between the eagle's head and the forward curve of the wing.
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
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Gregory J. Rohan
President
HERITAGE AUCTION GALLERIES
3500 Maple Avenue, 17th floor
Dallas, Texas 75219-3941
Phone: 214-528-3500 / 800-872-6467/ Private fax: 214-528-2596
Email to: Greg@HA.com
President
HERITAGE AUCTIONS
3500 Maple Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75219-3941
Phone: 214-528-3500 / Private fax: 214-409-1596
Email to: Greg@HA.com
Coin Rarities Online
<< <i>I did not know this about the annealing process for the Ultra High Relief Double Eagles. Here is some information from an email from Heritage. It is interesting that the end result is a layer of pure gold on the coins. Does anyone know whether that was a goal of the annealing process, or was it merely the result because the coin had to be annealed between each striking? *************** This Ultra High Relief double eagle was struck seven times on a medal press in order to fully bring up every detail in the dies. It was annealed between strikings, heating the coin to a cherry-red color and then cooling it in a weak solution of nitric acid. This annealing process gave Ultra High Reliefs an even more distinctive appearance, as the result was a bright surface of nearly pure gold with no variation in appearance between the fields and devices. The 'finish' of the Ultra High Relief transcends terms such as "satiny" or "frosted" - it is simply pure, glittering gold. Charles Barber, Chief Engraver of the Mint, certainly objected to the interference of outsiders such as Saint-Gaudens, but the lengthy, exacting production process for these Ultra High Relief coins made them impractical for commercial purposes. That the spirit of Saint-Gaudens' des ign survived the evolution of the double eagle through the 'regular' High Reliefs and thence to lower relief coins was to the artistic benefit of the nation. The surfaces of the incredible coin we are privileged to offer are bright orange-gold. As mentioned above, this finish is the product of repeated annealings, which resulted in the eventual elimination of all copper from the alloy and a thin layer of pure gold over both obverse and reverse. The striking details are nothing short of extraordinary also with an even more pronounced, dished, three-dimensional effect than seen on a regular High Relief. After several minutes of examining this piece with a strong magnifier we finally were able to locate one surface flaw that might be used as a pedigree identifier for this important coin: There is a short, diagonal luster graze on the reverse between the eagle's head and the forward curve of the wing. >>
Like it needs one anyway...
<< <i><<I would also like to mention that the PCGS PR68 Ultra High Relief is being auctioned UNRESERVED.>>
Like it needs one anyway... >>
Yeah....because Lloyd is going to buy it to match the one he took from the Smithsonian...
<< <i>Does anyone know whether that was a goal of the annealing process, or was it merely the result because the coin had to be annealed between each striking? >>
The latter.
As an artist who works in metal on occasion, I do have some insight into this process:
Picture a coat hanger wire - try bending it in one spot - what happens? The metal gets brittle and eventully snaps. It does not snap because it the bending made it softer, on the contrary, it made it harder. The way it was explained to me, is that what is happneing on a molecular level, is that the arragement of the atoms within the wire are getting compressed with the bending, and in turn the bonds between them loose some pliability. However, if you bend the wire once, and then heat the metal, it reorientates the atoms on the wire, thus allowing you to bend the wire some more without having it break.
I had not heard that the annealing process eliminates copper from the surface of a gold coin alloy. I know my experience in working with sterling is quite the opposite - sometimes the copper collects in purple-colored fields. This is called fire scale, and it is considered very undesirable. In any case, it is also a phenominum that is hard to control with any consistancy, and so I do not believe that this effect would have been taken into account by Mint when they created the high relief Saints. Besides, in my understanding, I think they had their hands full just trying to get the things to strike up fully.
>>>My Collection
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>If they remove the coin from the dies for annealing, how do they put it back in the EXACT same position to avoid doubling with the restrikes? >>
Since the coin is in relief and the die has an exact incuse image of the coin, the coin is self alligning within the die.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
<< <i>I would also like to mention that the PCGS PR68 Ultra High Relief is being auctioned UNRESERVED. >>
No reserve, huh? OK, I'll bid. And if nobody else bids, I might even win
<< <i>
<< <i>Does anyone know whether that was a goal of the annealing process, or was it merely the result because the coin had to be annealed between each striking? >>
The latter.
As an artist who works in metal on occasion, I do have some insight into this process:
Picture a coat hanger wire - try bending it in one spot - what happens? The metal gets brittle and eventully snaps. It does not snap because it the bending made it softer, on the contrary, it made it harder. The way it was explained to me, is that what is happneing on a molecular level, is that the arragement of the atoms within the wire are getting compressed with the bending, and in turn the bonds between them loose some pliability. However, if you bend the wire once, and then heat the metal, it reorientates the atoms on the wire, thus allowing you to bend the wire some more without having it break.
I had not heard that the annealing process eliminates copper from the surface of a gold coin alloy. I know my experience in working with sterling is quite the opposite - sometimes the copper collects in purple-colored fields. This is called fire scale, and it is considered very undesirable. In any case, it is also a phenominum that is hard to control with any consistancy, and so I do not believe that this effect would have been taken into account by Mint when they created the high relief Saints. Besides, in my understanding, I think they had their hands full just trying to get the things to strike up fully. >>
I am sure that it was the nitric acid that was removing the copper from the surface, not the heat.
TD
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.