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Since we are talking patterns...
RYK
Posts: 35,801 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have a couple questions:
What does the term "standard silver" mean/indicate?
Why are "gilt" coins indicate in Judd as "copper" in the coin listings?
What does the term "standard silver" mean/indicate?
Why are "gilt" coins indicate in Judd as "copper" in the coin listings?
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I am guessing on this: gilt = gold leaf over copper?
I knew it would happen.
Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
Most gilt patterns were plated outside the Mint. Separate Judd numbers would convey more legitimacy than the coins deserve.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>I am guessing on this: gilt = gold leaf over copper? >>
Exactly. And a gilt over copper coin has a much different look to it than a (mostly) pure gold coin.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
I am sure others will have better answers, but from Pollock's book the Standard Silver" coins were designed to solve a problem faced in 1869. Even though the Civil War was 4 years over, paper fractional currency still circulated. Fractional currency was, of course, messy and apparently became nasty after circulating for a while. So the mint had the idea of replacing fractional currency with standard silver coins. These coins were to have the same 0.900 fineness but were lighter than the conventional coins. For instance, the standard silver dime weighed 31.5 grains while the convetional dimes weighed 38.4 grains. The mint struck a BUNCH of patterns, largely in 1869 and 1870. The coins were mainly dimes, quarters, and halves. For any particular obverse/reverse design, the mint generally struck 6 examples: 2 in silver (one with a reeded edge, one with a plain edge), 2 in copper (one with a reeded edge, one with a plain edge), and 2 in aluminum (one with a reeded edge, one with a plain edge). The design combinations struck in 1870 are essentially the same as those struck in 1869. According to Pollock, Adams and Woodin report that nine-piece sets of the different standard silver designs and denominations were offered by the Mint for $15.
The reverse design has the word "standard" on it. I believe that many of the designs were apparently the work of Longacre (the mint's 19th century Longacre, not "our" 21st century Longacre
I recall QDB writing that no one would ever be able to complete a collection of standard silver patterns. I expect he is correct because there are so many coins. The PCGS standard silver registry set has 189 (!) coins. And, while some of the coins are relatively common--R5 or R6--while others are quite rare--R8.
I think it's a cool set. I've purchased a few and would someday like to have a "type set" of them. However, my progress is sufficiently slow that I expect one of my heirs will be the one to complete a type set.