RWB

I should note that it was ordinary practice to delivery coins of the previous year if there was some reason to prevent delivery in the correct calendar year. Reasons included late production and no time to review and adjust before new year; intervening holidays; unexpected schedule changes.

Completed dies were coated with oil and shipped in sealed boxes with sawdust packing. The oil was removed just before use. Once a die failed and was condemned, it was considered "scrap iron" and given no special treatment (except cancellation). It was up to the Coiner - or really the Coining Room foreman - to inspect dies before use and decide if they were suitable. Most past attributions as "rust" were really from "spalling." The Morgan dollar realm is especially cluttered with incorrect "rust."

Spinach....stuck to the inside of its beak..... ?

Very glad the OP will get a 100% refund! Curious about how it was "confirmed plated" following the earlier denials?

The emerald Purdue acquired was uncut. This was cut into two gemstones. No mention of what happened to the other one. (Frank Purdue used to do his own TV commercials. He kind'a resembled a scrawny rooster. I knew the Purdue family when I worked on Maryland's Eastern Shore long ago.

When steel rusts, the metal expands. The visible effects on a coin struck from a rusted die are: 1) irregular depressions in the surface, and 2) soft definition due to the low density of iron oxide compared to normal die steel.

The people hired as "Calculators" at Treasury/Mint and other Bureaus were expert at calculating long columns and sequences of numbers --- I don't know if they could do anything else or if they were true "savants."

Coinage dies expire at the end of the calendar year --- but if the clock stops and nobody notices..... Congress and many State Legislatures have been known to "stop the clock" so work can be completed.

In Jr. High, we had a month-long class in using the Japanese soroban (算盤, そろばん, counting tray). A couple of kids got so good with it that they used it in business classes instead of regular mechanical calculators. The Business teacher did not like this -- no paper tape -- but the kids got the right answers!

Not safe to assume that. Depending on demand and production rates, coins could be struck up to the end of Dec 31, and then resumed with new-year dies on the first working day on the new calendar year. In rare instances, such as 1907, coins were struck into the New Year when the Philadelphia Mint's "clock mysteriously failed just before midnight." This allowed more MCMVII double eagles to be made to keep TR happy.

Preparations had begun in late 1877 and the plan was to bring New Orleans on line July 1 1878. The added minting capacity was needed.

Assay Commission members were recommended by Members of Congress and others. The list was expanded or contracted as needed by the mint director, then passed to the Secretary of Treasury or the President's approval and appointment. There was usually an attempt to have a broad range of technical and business people from around the country, although certain NY college professors were appointed multiple times. Most directors liked to spread around the Presidential Appointment honor so repeat membership was not common until the 20th century when some people, Rep William Ashbrook notably, were appointed several years in a row. Appointment for a western resident was like a paid vacation. The Gov't picked up travel, lodging and meals, so a member from California, like Dodge, could get out of "Dodge" for free for the Gov'ts nickel. The only correspondence prior to Leech's negative telegram refers to appointing Dodge 2 years before - and it was entirely cordial. Each appointee received a signed invitation from the President. After the meetings (usually 2 days) they were allowed to pick coins from the remainders as souvenirs and occasionally offered pattern or test pieces as in 1878,1908 and 1922. Later, each member was given a bronze medal as a token of appreciation. Only 1 gold medal was ever made - for President Wilson. This was the idea of commission members as paid for by them. It is in the Wilson Institute in Washington DC.

A 1973 10-cent piece is 2.07 g, 18.03 mm diameter and made of 99.9% nickel. It is strongly magnetic. The density of pure nickel is 8.9. The density of 18k gold alloy is 15.6 (assuming copper alloy). The density ratio is 1.75 meaning that if the coin were made entirely of 18k gold, it would weigh 1.75 x 2.07 = 3.62 grams and contain 2.715 grams (0.0873 T oz) of gold worth about $152 at $1,750 per T oz fine. (Approx 31.10347 grams per T Oz.) In other words, the OP got duped no matter how we slice the bologna.

Dirty, not "tarnished."

Messrs. Robert Wetherill & Co. Chester, Penna. October 5, 1878 Gentlemen, Owing to the prevalence of yellow fever at New Orleans since July last, we have been unable to procure detailed estimates of the amount and different kinds of machinery required, and the expenses of equipping a sylphuric acid refinery at the Mint in that city. Considering these facts and the limited amount of the appropriation for this purpose, it has been decided to reject all bids opened at this office on the first instant. Having already one coining press, we will not contract for the manufacture of a second one at this time. Your bid for the manufacture of a hydraulic press and that of Orr, Hess & Morgan of Philadelphia being the same $2,000, we have decided to ask a new bid from both parties for this machine as well as for a grinding machine, the latter to be supplied with an emery wheel. I will thank you to inform this office as early as practicable of the price at which you will construct these machines. The bid of Messrs. Orr, Hess & Morgan for a grinding machine was considerably less than yours; but we deem it but justice to you to afford you an opportunity to again compete for the manufacture of that machine. Very respectfully Robert E. Preston, Acting Director The first New Orleans Mint Morgan dollars were delivered Feb 27 (10,000) and Feb 28 (12,000)

On another thread someone posted a photo of a late 19th century calculating machine. Here's what the Mint Director had to say in March 1892. Superintendent, U.S. Mint Philadelphia, Pa March 22, 1892 Sir: Replying to you communication of the 18th inst., asking authority to purchase a computing machine, I would say that we have had two or three of these machines in this Bureau at various times and never found them of any great value. I don’t think one is needed in your institution, and authority for its purchase is therefore withheld. Very respectfully, E. O Leech, Director [RG104 Entry-235 Vol 64 p129-130]

A die is really a very short circular cone. The formula is:

I located a few more brief letters/telegrams and all seem entirely cordial and routine. Dodge was usually referred to as "Hon. H. L. Dodge" suggesting he held, or recently held, public office.

Henry Dodge was involved in several business deals in and around the city. It is possible there had been a disagreement between the men involving one of these. Also, Edwin Leech had been in the Mint system for several years before replacing James Kimball in 1889. It is possible he knew of internal gossip. It is also possible that Dodge and Kimball, a former mining engineer, cracked skulls over mine or geology and that Kimball relayed his opinions to Leech in conversation.

These patterns and the MCMVII circulations coins were all made on a medal press. The high relief allows for better fitting of coin to die for each strike; however, there was always a slight mismatch due to planchet movement and slight changes from the annealing cycle. The patterns were carefully made, but a few show slight doubling in various places. Some MCMVII coins show slight doubling -- but often is not evident without experience examining these coins. Vicken Yegparian with Stacks-Bowers identified several while preparing coins for auction.

I've not located any other correspondence between the two in that volume.

#1 Yes. That was part of it and the thing most "experts" concentrate on. #2 No. Force is applied differently on different mechanical configurations of press. There is also the problem of maintaining alignment.

The only difference was polish. Initial detail (before polishing) was the same. No. Proof coins could only be made on a high pressure medal press. The mechanical differences and force application were not the same. It is usually possible to identify a legitimate proof coin from a similar piece struck on a normal toggle press of that era.

That was the law. The purpose was to maintain public confidence in the gold certificates and other gold-backed securities. The coin vs bullion proportion was intended to meet any public demand for legal tender coin while avoiding the cost of coinage for at least part of the backing.

Nice comments both here and across the railroad tracks! Proof coin dies did not "age" in the same way as production dies. The higher pressure and differences in force application caused accelerated fatigue, and exaggerated surface changes. Proof dies were also readily influenced by the depth of polish given to planchets. Thus, even a small quantity of coin strikes, might have a pronounced effect on coin appearance.