RWB

The bill covers only materials used for July...They use 13 gross of steel pen nibs - that's a lot of scribbling by clerks.

The ceramic refining pots were not near a window. They were toward the center of the refining room and sat in a water bath that was heated almost to boiling by steam pipes. Hot sulfuric acid replaced nitric acid in this system. It was cheaper and less corrosive. Over top of the pots was a shed-like structure called "the house" that had side vents and access openings, plus an exhaust flue at the top. (See From Mine to Mint for illustrations.)

The "shutters" were inside the refining room and enclosed the pots of hot sulfuric acid. I presume that first aid would be sodium bicarbonate in water to dilute and neutralize the acid.

Very interesting Cat Bath. Only a few more seals and it might have worked!

WoW! That's not much more than a bag of lawn fertilizer. Don't know what a "production coordinator" at NGC would do (maybe fertilize the Bermuda grass?) but that weight range sounds like someone who would separate pallets of Mint ASE boxes and parse them to the graders.....?

Based on the photos, no sign of obverse die being doubled. Others will likely offer their ideas, too.

Did you have a question about the coin?

This brief letter describes an accident involving refining acid. The unfortunate employee likely spent a painful week recuperating. September 27, 1887 My Dear Mr. Fox: Mr. George Askin one of the employees of the Mint, in the Coining Room, I believe, while in the act of assisting in closing some of the shutters yesterday afternoon, was accidentally forced to step into one of the acid baths and in consequence has had the skin almost completely exfoliated from the calf of the right leg while partially from the left. I hardly think he will be able to work any this week. If however he is able to do, I will recommended it. He did not request me to write you; I volunteered to do this for him. Hoping that you and your family are well, I am as ever, Your s very respectfully, Joseph C. Eglert

There are several published papers regarding long term plastic degradation - especially of artworks made in the late 1940s/early 50s.

Most of us associate the phrase "red tape" with unnecessary bureaucracy in government and corporations. Well, here is a real US Mint bill for delivery of stationery supplies - including 25 spools of authentic "Red Tape." (This was used for sealing vaults and similar purposes, but it's kind of fun to see it on a bill.)

What was the question it was struck through? If it was a rhetorical question it might be indeterminable.

Good to see a retired rag picker can prosper in America!

More road kill.

This little article was written in 2006 as part of the Maynard Sundman, Littleton Coin Company Lecture Series. I don't recall if it was printed or not. The intro and first paragraph are below. Anyone who would like a PDF copy for personal use can send me a PM with their email address. (Note: addresses will not be stored or shared.) American Advocates Changing the Course of National Coinage Design "There are few instances of American politics supporting American art. Most examples – construction of a concert hall at public expense or establishment of an art museum or statuary in a public park – are local in range and parochial in treatment. With the exception of the Smithsonian’s suite of NationalMuseums and ArtGalleries and the National Endowment for the Arts, the few national examples tend toward engineering expressions of the practical. We are, in the view of many, a nation of practical business people for whom the arts are an entertainment not a necessity. Politicians place their tax money expenditures on public works not public arts. Thus, on those rare occasions when a noted politician takes the creative Muse by her hand (done so rarely for poor Juno Moneta) the result may accurately be called historical." "A century ago there was just such a confluence of politics and art in America. The nation was beginning to realize its own enormity – both the promise and embarrassment – and struggled to find a role in the world community of nations. We were a nation born of revolution against regal control, then deeply tempered by the quenching blood of a million brothers. In this time, we connected the sunrise and sunset with rails of steel and wires that sang. As a new century began, we sought to connect ourselves to the larger world of nations, to show we were not only equal of any, but superior to most – worthy of envy by all."

Coins likely kept in a rusting steel can -- such as a coffee can. If it is any consolation, some collectors of gold coins try to convince themselves that the colors on the PO's quarter are exceptional toning and worth a huge premium.

In coin collecting should that be "at obverse value"...? Here's a PL 1874 from NGC for comparison. (Composite courtesy HA.com)

I like the employee sauna and health spa, free lunch and dinner, etc. The on-site optometrist is a great confidence builder, too! Hmmm...Did I see these in the plans or was that my imagination...?

I had to go ATS, open the thread, then click the link there -- while standing on my head.

Sorry, but "No, No, and No."

Nickel and copper used in the OPs coin are more reactive than silver. The coin is corroded, nothing more.

The coin does not appear to be "AU" to me. The photos suggest a nice EF - it is certainly not AU in the classical sense of the term -- i.e. a trace of wear on highest point and/or slight disturbance in luster. As for PL, I don't see enough to justify the designation - however, there are no standards, so it could be flat matte, and be called "PL" by someone.

"MS" or "Mint State" just means the coin has not been in circulation -- it is "Uncirculated" (an older but more accurately descriptive term than "Mint State"). Any wear indicates the coin has been used in commerce so it might be called "About Uncirculated" or "Extremely Fine" or "Very Fine" depending on the amount of wear.

Your coin was likely made during the 2nd full day of production - which is when all but about 100,000 1921s were struck. The luster and slight graininess along the periphery are from normal die wear. The graininess is also an early sign of steel that is not responding well to high pressure - possibly it was improperly tempered....?

This letter might also help explain some of the losses and gains in mint reports. This refers specifically to the gain reported on rolling silver. Mint of the United States at Philadelphia, Pa. Coiner’s Department July 21, 1878 Hon. Daniel M. Fox, Superintendent Sir: In response to the inquiry of the director in his letter of the 20th inst., desiring information relative to the item on the Coiner’s Monthly report “Loss/Gain from rolls,” I have the honor to state, that the silver ingots during their treatment for coinage are first rolled into strips, of proper thickness, and with a view to preserve these in each stage of reduction of suitable ductility from the breakdown and finishing rolls, preparatory to their being drawn and cut into blanks; these strips are successively heated to low redness in an open annealing furnace, and under exposure to this heat, the surface becomes oxidized, and to this accretion foreign matter, or oxygen gas which may have combined with the copper, is due the apparent gain from rolls. There is nothing unusual in this gain from rolls, it always existed by this mode of annealing, the blank reports furnished by the Department already provide for the item. The following statement shows the gain from rolls from 1882–1887. Fiscal Year Amt Operated Upon Apparent Loss Gain from Rolls Actual Loss 1882 19,652,112.90 7,272.20 5,101.60 2,170.60 1883 22,129,567.50 8,844.70 5,245.70 3,599.00 1884 25,047,074.00 9,490.40 5,099.70 4,390.70 1885 27,551,884.90 9,353.80 5,006.00 4,347.80 1886 38,710,491.50 13,021.40 7,649.50 5,371.90 1887 41,611,039.60 15,489.60 9,936.00 5,553.60 Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant William S. Steel, Coiner [Abstract – July 21, 1887. W. S. Steel. Explaining the item on Coiner’s Monthly Report “Loss/gain from rolls.”]

Not sure if anyone scraped the ground around the old mint on Chestnut. 70 years of "lost" gold might be waiting?