Is There a Way to Date Cancelled Mint Dies?

[Mr. Smith Guesser]

I just got a cancelled Roosevelt die from Jon Sullivan to add to my dime collection. Is there a way to date these from (what I think is) the serial number on the side?

 

The number is: D4 - 518607

 

[DWLange]

The only instance known to me of Roosevelt Dime dies coming to market is when the dies that coined the 1968-S proof coinage were sold as scrap and then marketed by a San Francisco coin dealer in 1969. I have several denominations of these and a half dollar collar.

 

Those have serial numbers beginning with SP, which I assume stands for San Francisco-Proof, but I'm not certain on that point. If this is true, then the letter D may stand for Denver. This is simply speculation on my part, and I can't prove it.

[RWB]

There are late 20th century die lists at NARA Philadelphia, but I've never checked them. (All on paper -- no electronic versions.)

[Mr. Smith Guesser]

There are late 20th century die lists at NARA Philadelphia, but I've never checked them. (All on paper -- no electronic versions.)

Cool. I'll call them and see what I can find.

[RWB]

RG104, Entry 666 Dies Destroyed, Retained & Number of Pieces Struck 1956-December 31, 1961, Philadelphia Mint 6 in.

Lists of Dies (domestic and foreign) destroyed and retained by the Mint in Philadelphia. The lists cover a three month period. The lists specify the quantities of each die, obverse and reverse, and their denominations. Arranged in reverse chronological order.

 

G-12-09-03-1 to G-12-09-03-2 Boxes 125-126

 

671 Die Orders Denver 1958-1964 1 cu.ft.

Correspondence and Bills of Lading for dies made by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia to be shipped to the Mint in Denver. The Bills of Lading (Form 1103A) detail the form of transportation for the shipment, date, number of packages, kind of packages, description of articles, and weight of the packages. Arranged in reverse chronological order.

 

G-12-09-04-1 to G-12-09-04-2 Boxes 130-131

 

 

672 Collars Manufactured for Denver 1962-1965 .5 in.

Correspondence, forms, and Bills of Lading for the manufacture of collars by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia to be shipped to the Mint in Denver. The Bills of Lading (Form 1103A) detail the form of transportation for the shipment, date, number of packages, kind of packages, description of articles, and weight of the packages. Arranged in reverse chronological order.

 

G-12-09-04-2 Box 131

 

 

681 Dies Destroyed, Retained & Number of Pieces Struck 1956-December 31, 1961 Denver Mint .5 in.

Lists of Dies destroyed and retained by the Denver Mint sent to Philadelphia. The lists cover a three month period. Each list states the number of dies used, average pieces struck by dies and total number of pieces stamped. Arranged in reverse chronological order.

 

G-12-09-05-1 Box 136

 

 

Bx 130 Die Orders Denver 1958-1960 part 1-3

Die Orders Denver 1961-1962 parts 1-2

 

Bx 131 Die Orders Denver 1961-1962 part 3

Dies Manufactured for Denver 1963-1964 parts 1-3

Collars Manufactured for Denver 1962-1965

 

Bx 132 Coin Bags Manufactured for Denver 1956-1965 parts 1-3

Dies Manufactured for Denver Orders 1958-1959

Coinage Dies Manufactured for Denver 1965 parts 1-2

 

Bx 133 Coinage Dies Manufactured for Denver 1965 part 3

Blanks-Nickel-Bronze-Silver received from Denver & shipped to Denver, Jan. 1964-Dec. 1964 parts 1-3

Blanks-Nickel-Bronze-Silver received from Denver part 1

 

 

 

 

[Mr. Smith Guesser]

The first speedbump to figuring it out...

 

I tried calling the The National Archives at Philadelphia. But the phone number on their website (215-606-0112) has been disconnected. An operator at the National Archives near D.C. told me that the NARA at Philadelphia has moved and the new phone number is 215-305-2000. A call to this phone number lead to an automated system, which just lead to a voice mail. I'll have to try again later and send an email.

[RWB]

The person to talk to in Philadelphia is Matt DiBiasi.

[Mr. Smith Guesser]

Cool. I was figuring that I would have to go up there and go through the paper files myself, which isn't too bad...I live in Baltimore and Philly is only a 2 hour drive