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Someone teach me the precise difference between Open and Closed Collar minting

I need a crash course (Minting-101) on the differences between these two coin manufacturing methods.

I believe I have a decent handle on the difference between the two, but I need some reassurance.

Thanks for any and all help image

Comments

  • RWBRWB Posts: 8,082
    Open collar –
    An open collar is a metal plate with a circular hole cut in it. The hole is small enough to keep a planchet in the correct position for striking, but not so small that the collar affects the edge of the planchet. This is especially important where the planchet edge has been lettered or ornamented before striking. Coins made with an open collar differ slightly in thickness and diameter from one another.

    Closed collar –
    A closed collar is a metal plate that has a circular hole of a specific diameter for each denomination as stipulated by law. Planchets are made slightly smaller than the collar, and when struck, the planchet metal is pushed into the face designs as well as against the collar (or “edge die”). This imparts the edge design (usually vertical reeding) and also forms the protective rim in conjunction with the face dies. A closed collar also ensures uniformity in diameter and contributes to consistent thickness.

    Does this help?
  • QuarternutQuarternut Posts: 1,481 ✭✭✭
    Open collar –
    An open collar is a metal plate with a circular hole cut in it. The hole is small enough to keep a planchet in the correct position for striking, but not so small that the collar affects the edge of the planchet. This is especially important where the planchet edge has been lettered or ornamented before striking. Coins made with an open collar differ slightly in thickness and diameter from one another.



    Close RWB (no pun intended), but not exactly correct for all denominations.

    I have an article that is almost completed and will be published in the JR Journal that has some added information about this subject. Stay tuned...image

    QN

    Go to Early United States Coins - to order the New "Early United States Half Dollar Vol. 1 / 1794-1807" book or the 1st new Bust Quarter book!

  • STONESTONE Posts: 15,275
    That's perfect image

    What I wasn't as certain about was the difference in size between the "circular hole in the metal plate"
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,016 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There is the third type, the segmented collar, which was used for the St. Gaudens $10 and $20 gold pieces. This type closed around the planchet it was placed in the coin press for striking and retraced after the coin was struck. This allowed the obverse, reverse and edge of the coin (stars for the $10 gold, “E Pluribus Unum” for the $20) to be struck in one operation. If the collar was not made in a segmented format the coin and the collar would be fused after the strike the edge devices would lock the piece in place.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • RWBRWB Posts: 8,082
    Ok....I was trying not to be too technical. As others correctly point out, there are several variations of open and closed collars. (There were also two types of 3-part collars for edge lettering – the toggle-type and cone- or English-collar.)

    Now - for the super secret REAL meaning:

    Open collar - press operators could open the top button on their shirts and also roll up their shirt sleeves to the elbow. Only in hot weather. Female press operators could do none of these things.

    Closed collar - shirts had to be buttoned to the top and sleeves buttoned at the wrists. Celluloid collars were worn if the boss was on the floor.
  • STONESTONE Posts: 15,275
    Another question:

    How would the Open and Closed Collar methods affect the dies striking the coins?
  • RWBRWB Posts: 8,082
    Sorry, can't help much there. Have never examined such dies together, and in detail.
  • QuarternutQuarternut Posts: 1,481 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Another question:

    How would the Open and Closed Collar methods affect the dies striking the coins? >>



    In theory the collar dies should never come into complete contact with the dies. The dies diameter should fit just inside the diameter of the collar die. There would be a slight increase in pressure directed upward and downward into the dies from the planchet being contained by the close collar die, however it would be a very miniscule amount. Other than that, it should work the same as with the open collar.

    Hope this helps!

    QN

    Go to Early United States Coins - to order the New "Early United States Half Dollar Vol. 1 / 1794-1807" book or the 1st new Bust Quarter book!

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