RWB

Objectivity is present -- just not in this type of "drama" and bias. It requires patience and expertise to find the truth.

The following are temperatures at which various metals are melted at the Denver Mint: Copper Plated Zinc Cent (CPZ) 850° - 900° F. Bronze Cent (Copper) 2, 200° F. 8 1/ 3 (%Nickel) Dime , Quarter , Ralf Dollar - 2, 400° F. Nickel - 2,800° F. Stamping Dies - 3, 000° F. [Notice that melting zinc cents would leave pure copper slag at the bottom of the induction furnace. RWB.]

Here are the original letter referred to, and the token used at the Denver Mint.

The "dealer" is trying to deal you a bad hand. That he's trying to sell a frequently altered or counterfeited coin without authentication is a bad sign. That he is asking a premium price for a coin with a prominent spot and scratch is another bad sign. That the seller is doing these things indicates he cannot be trusted. That the OP is considering this purchase is a sign of too much "enthusiasm" and not enough knowledge.

Here's a bigger, blurry version. Lots of wear and lots of damage.

Thought this letter mint be of interest to members -- especially if you come across an undefined token. (See 2nd post.) Also, notice that the original inquiry was dated almost SIX YEARS before the 1986 reply!

Where's the cheese -- and crumbled bacon on top...?

Highly biased account. Very skeptical. What's the objective story?

There are case folders in NARA for applications for import licenses, and other matters that came within his office.

Howard was hired by Ross on the recommendation of her son, Bradford. He had been a student of Howard's at University of Virginia. His mother was looking for someone to replace Mary O'Reilly, and Howard's background in accounting fit with her desire to update mint financial procedures. Howard was 100% toady. After WW-II he was part of the group that examined and audited gold and artworks looted by the Nazis. Later Mint Directors found Howard to be a pest and Eva Adams had him removed from the Mint, along with the gold licensing work.

That is the legal specification. Occasional checking samples are taken, but most US circulation coins are "counted" by bulk weight....just as cents, nickels, etc. have been for a long time. Bulk weight is compared to strike counters on presses and weight of rejects. If the comparison shows an average correct weight, then the entire bulk amount is approved for release to Brinks and other counting/rolling companies and issued by the Federal Reserve System.

RE: "Help! Is this Coin Worth a Lot?" Nope. It's a very poor quality fake. (The rare ones are dated 1805 and come in hand painted colors.) On further consideration, it's not worth an alley, or an easement, or even a temporary right-of-way....

Coins are not weighed individually -- only in bulk. Same for the planchets. I suspect a defective planchet with internal copper oxide or a small void. Either would deaden the "ring" and still allow for a full dimension coin. [I originally thought the coin had been struck using lower case edge lettering -- and thus "lighter." But that's not the case....] OK...OK...the immediate above is just minor "humor."

Mint Director Ross was evidently not pleased with Superintendent Mark Skinner's attitude regarding transfer of Mr. Moessner to New York.

What make vehicle ran over it? ... Or was it hit by a lawn mower first....?

Correct. Others might have been saved by sharp-eyed collectors who noticed the superior sharpness of first strike coins off ANY set of dies -- of ANY denomination.

Thousands exist, but mixed with the rest of coinage as is normal. The coins from the Adams Estate and at the Smithsonian were simply saved just after striking. Further, since every pair of new dies is slightly different, any true "first strike" coins you fined will not necessarily match the phony "Special Strike" ones being peddled to the ignorant. (The knowledgeable numismatists will find similar first strike coins in the Mitchelson Collection and a couple of un-touched museum collections.)

I think it ruined a nice collector coin that could be worth several hundred dollars without the damage.

1. Nice looking coins acquired by your father. 2. Do not attempt to clean or "improve" the coins. Leave them as-is. 3. I suggest you take them to a coin dealer who has an NGC submission account, and have them ship the coins for authentication and grading. They will know how to price the services and also give you an informal opinion about whether the coins were cleaned/dipped at one time.

No such critter. Simply normal coins made off new dies. Many thousands exist from all the new dies put into service during mintage.

Very nice! Congrats on finding such a nice first-year specimen! Clean AU based on the photo.

The concept of ANA offering any sort of an accredited degree in ANYTHING is far removed from reality. Presently, they can't begin to attempt to help collectors with anti-counterfeiting when the tools are available. Truthfully, there are few degrees anywhere in "numismatics" except as part of archeology or history. A few places offer self-directed "degree" programs, but they carry no academic weight. Plus, the version practiced in the US is nowhere close to a science or serious topic of inquiry -- a hobby, yes, and a fine one.

Common date and condition. Market saturation.

Can you tell us what you see that cause you to post a photo? Can you post a sharp photo?

Is the real grade 15-percent uphill ?