Very interesting info! How have I missed this one?
After reading through the numbers, the one thing that really strikes me is, all the years I've been a collector and metal detectorist and looked through the Red Book at the mintage numbers and had this mental picture of all the millions of coins that were minted and the few that exist now and wondered where are all the rest of them. Just knowing that many of them are laying in the dirt waiting to be found... and now coming to the realization that those numbers are very misleading. Many of the early coins were melted to make others, which were subsequently melted again later to make others.
It all makes sense now. Kind of a let down, but very enlightening at the same time.
as one person responded about the lack of fake 20 centers, i would guess that even though there were still a handful of 20 centers floating around in 1901, it would not be wise to counterfeit a coin that would already have attention drawn to it, i found it odd that there was over 500 1880 dimes at the philly mint, but far fewer of the 1879 and 1881 which all had similar mintages. assuming this wasnt half a bag dug out of a treasury vault. all those coins melted, im wondering why the director of the mint isnt doing this today, that would put to work all the idle hands at the mint, and anything found could be loaded up on the mints website. "Genuine silver quarter minted before 1965 only $45.99 plus $13.85 shipping and handling limited supply, act now,
<< <i>as one person responded about the lack of fake 20 centers, i would guess that even though there were still a handful of 20 centers floating around in 1901, it would not be wise to counterfeit a coin that would already have attention drawn to it, i found it odd that there was over 500 1880 dimes at the philly mint, but far fewer of the 1879 and 1881 which all had similar mintages. assuming this wasnt half a bag dug out of a treasury vault. all those coins melted, im wondering why the director of the mint isnt doing this today, that would put to work all the idle hands at the mint, and anything found could be loaded up on the mints website. "Genuine silver quarter minted before 1965 only $45.99 plus $13.85 shipping and handling limited supply, act now, >>
Good catch. You may be right about the 1880 dimes.
TD
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.
im curious also, why on the first page of the report, (page 17) it states that in the both years 1901 and 1902 that $3million face was recoined, but if you add up the tables with the date breakdowns, the total comes to now where near that amount for either year, can someone explain math to me ?
<< <i>im curious also, why on the first page of the report, (page 17) it states that in the both years 1901 and 1902 that $3million face was recoined, but if you add up the tables with the date breakdowns, the total comes to now where near that amount for either year, can someone explain math to me ? >>
Probably wornout gold, which is not covered in these breakdowns. TD
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.
Comments
After reading through the numbers, the one thing that really strikes me is, all the years I've been a collector and metal detectorist and looked through the Red Book at the mintage numbers and had this mental picture of all the millions of coins that were minted and the few that exist now and wondered where are all the rest of them. Just knowing that many of them are laying in the dirt waiting to be found... and now coming to the realization that those numbers are very misleading. Many of the early coins were melted to make others, which were subsequently melted again later to make others.
It all makes sense now. Kind of a let down, but very enlightening at the same time.
Very cool thread!
edited for spelling.
<< <i>as one person responded about the lack of fake 20 centers, i would guess that even though there were still a handful of 20 centers floating around in 1901, it would not be wise to counterfeit a coin that would already have attention drawn to it, i found it odd that there was over 500 1880 dimes at the philly mint, but far fewer of the 1879 and 1881 which all had similar mintages. assuming this wasnt half a bag dug out of a treasury vault. all those coins melted, im wondering why the director of the mint isnt doing this today, that would put to work all the idle hands at the mint, and anything found could be loaded up on the mints website. "Genuine silver quarter minted before 1965 only $45.99 plus $13.85 shipping and handling limited supply, act now, >>
Good catch. You may be right about the 1880 dimes.
TD
<< <i>im curious also, why on the first page of the report, (page 17) it states that in the both years 1901 and 1902 that $3million face was recoined, but if you add up the tables with the date breakdowns, the total comes to now where near that amount for either year, can someone explain math to me ? >>
Probably wornout gold, which is not covered in these breakdowns.
TD