I hate to admit this,,, but this is the type of stuff that gets me excited.
Thats what working in tool and die will do to a man!
“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly."
That is a fascinating story, Daniel! I can't imagine how hard it must have been to troubleshoot a complex system like that without knowing anything about how it was designed to work. I didn't know there was so much peripheral equipment required to run a press (PLCs, etc.). I figured they just hooked the press up to a power source and pushed a green button to get it to run - it's obviously a lot more involved than that!
It would be cool to have one of those press commem medals to go with your Denver Mint centennial medal I have.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
You asked a question about "why the red X" on the feeding fingers. My guess is that it was rendered unserviceable after being struck, but it seems odd that the outside of the fingers would be problematic for re-use. You used a lot of ingenuity in bypassing systems to make this operational. Thanks for the mini tour inside the machine. It's fascinating to me.
And did you try the "RED X'ed" fingers in the machine to see if there is a problem ?
Very cool post! I am really surprised that they surplused this without checking for all those blanks and such. Imagine if this was a press from the 1800s with all those coins still inside! I am interested in how much the press cost at auction and how much the restoration was?
Just curious do the dates of the coins and medal found give an indication of a time frame when maintenance decreased or does it appear the level of maintenance was consistent over the years by the Mint? Do some of the locations and amount of coins and planchets indicate a poor maintenance program on this press?
Next time you need an $800 part drop me a note. I'm sure I could have made it for you for half that and I guarantee it fits right the first time. I have lots of high strength steel material in my garage shop and quite a bit of experience making precision parts. I don't do much work now because coins keeps me busy but need an excuse to get the tools out occasionally.
Did you have to put in 480 volt service in your home? How many horspower is that. I assume it's 3 phase and needs a hefty power supply. Around here that's hard to do (zoning). Are you running it off a phase converter?
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
interesting post, and a great job of restoration, but doesn't anyone think that these should be destroyed once the mint is done with them, and not available for others to buy
The struck feeder fingers likely have some good value, too. Maybe not enough to pay your costs for the rest of the press, but I bet it's more than chump change...
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
Very very neat. I too would assume it would not be for resale, you would think they would at least removed all the contraband. I too would be interested in one of the tokens stuck on the blanks.
<< <i>interesting post, and a great job of restoration, but doesn't anyone think that these should be destroyed once the mint is done with them, and not available for others to buy >>
So once the city is done using a police car, it should be destroyed ? Crito might want to buy one. Would that be fair ?
They kind of are, they remove all the police equipment before selling. I've purchased one and the only thing it had left on it was the spot light and cage between the seats. They aren't used to produce our coinage either.
<< <i>interesting post, and a great job of restoration, but doesn't anyone think that these should be destroyed once the mint is done with them, and not available for others to buy >>
So once the city is done using a police car, it should be destroyed ? Crito might want to buy one. Would that be fair ? >>
Great! Now you got the Blues Brothers in my head!!!!!!!
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
"Men who had never shown any ability to make or increase fortunes for themselves abounded in brilliant plans for creating and increasing wealth for the country at large." Fiat Money Inflation in France, Andrew Dickson White (1912)
Comments
And how much are these beauties?
Wow.............that is outstanding
Try this machine shop if you need parts made.
–John Adams, 1826
Thats what working in tool and die will do to a man!
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
-Weinman Fan
I love the details in the article!
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It would be cool to have one of those press commem medals to go with your Denver Mint centennial medal I have.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
You asked a question about "why the red X" on the feeding fingers.
My guess is that it was rendered unserviceable after being struck, but it seems odd that the outside of the fingers would be problematic for re-use. You used a lot of ingenuity in bypassing systems to make this operational. Thanks for the mini tour inside the machine. It's fascinating to me.
And did you try the "RED X'ed" fingers in the machine to see if there is a problem ?
<< <i>Paying attention when the Mint puts out a press release can pay off. >>
I can't top this one
Do some of the locations and amount of coins and planchets indicate a poor maintenance program on this press?
this is very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I bet Fred W. is going to wet his britches when he sees some of those planchets.
-wes
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
And congradulations on the completed restoration. I can't imagine how much time/effort you put into that but it sure looks like it paid off.
Very cool.
Next time you need an $800 part drop me a note. I'm sure I could have made it for you for half that and I guarantee it fits right the first time. I have lots of high strength steel material in my garage shop and quite a bit of experience making precision parts. I don't do much work now because coins keeps me busy but need an excuse to get the tools out occasionally.
Did you have to put in 480 volt service in your home? How many horspower is that. I assume it's 3 phase and needs a hefty power supply. Around here that's hard to do (zoning). Are you running it off a phase converter?
the glove box in the corner is a nice touch.
--Jerry
I wonder if they have any American Made coin presses?
Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
POTY!
YOU SUCK OF THE YEAR!
TD
<< <i>Here is the story:
Moonlight Mint's Grabener Coin Press
I LOVE IT!!
Coins made while you wait!
Gardnerville, NV
=========================
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Congrad's on a great job. I love it!!!
I knew it would happen.
I imagine they simply go flying everywhere. You seem to have found them everywhere.
Sounds like a fun restoration job. Now the real fun begins.
Agree, how do we get one of those recycled quarter medals?
and a great job of restoration,
but doesn't anyone think that these should be destroyed once the
mint is done with them,
and not available for others to buy
The struck feeder fingers likely have some good value, too. Maybe not enough to pay your costs for the rest of the press, but I bet it's more than chump change...
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
<< <i>This needs to be published in the Numismatist. >>
I will second that one. Very interesting and one of the rare numismatic subjects, at least for me lately, that will keep my attention.
<< <i>interesting post,
and a great job of restoration,
but doesn't anyone think that these should be destroyed once the
mint is done with them,
and not available for others to buy >>
So once the city is done using a police car, it should be destroyed ?
Crito might want to buy one. Would that be fair ?
<< <i>
<< <i>interesting post,
and a great job of restoration,
but doesn't anyone think that these should be destroyed once the
mint is done with them,
and not available for others to buy >>
So once the city is done using a police car, it should be destroyed ?
Crito might want to buy one. Would that be fair ? >>
Great! Now you got the Blues Brothers in my head!!!!!!!
Hoard the keys.
<< <i>All I can say is WOW!!! Where did you learn how to troubleshoot/repair the coin press?
And how much are these beauties?
>>
Thanks !
I have a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. Experiece from working on old cars in the past helped a lot too.
PS:
I don't have them on my shopping cart site yet, but there is a "printable" price list link on the www.moonlightmint.com home page.
<< <i>I've got a slightly used pair of bright orange Denver Mint earplugs if you need them! >>
I got a bag of them too, in with the crate of spare parts. But they're too mushy to stamp anything on.
<< <i>I didn't see a coffee pot.....
Thanks! No coffee. Fridge is behind camera.