Medal or Coin Press on this example?

[wdrob]

Below is a common U.S Philadelphia Mint medal pressed in 1969, and I assume it was to celebrate the move to that location from the previous location. Due to that there were more than likely a huge mintage of these pieces.

 

My question to those that might know the answer, or even those that might think they know the answer - is it possible that this medal, which has a diameter of 38 mm might possibly have been pressed on a coin press instead of a medal press?

 

I ask this question since I noticed the quality of strike is very poor and actually reminds me of a large amount of the nickels that are pressed using older dies and have many flaws, whereas the medals that I have had limited experience with all seem to be consitent with the higher quality of a medal press.

 

What say you?

 

 

Thanks for any opinions.

[BillJones]

This is an example of the "make your own coin" that you could buy in the lobby of the Philadelphia Mint. You bought a blank planchet, they placed it between the dies, and you pushed a button to strike it. I know because I did it back in the day. And it was on what was probably an old coin press.

[wdrob]

Hi Bill. Thank you for the explanation. I figured that something was not quite right with it.

 

I have another one that is still in a U.S. Mint sealed plastic 'bag' that I assume they distributed them in. I would have never thought that they were pressed by visitors but that makes sense and explains the poor pressing.

 

Thanks.

 

 

[DWLange]

I'll just add that they were made for the Denver and San Francisco Mints, too. I believe they sold for $3 when I acquired my first examples in the 1970s.

 

I was a regular visitor to the Old SF Mint Museum in the 1980s-90s, using its splendid library to perform research for articles and for my books on Lincolns, Buffaloes and Mercuries. The library had a complete set of Mint Director Reports, and these were extremely useful.

 

I got to know the staff so well after awhile that they no longer supervised me, and I had the run of the place. As a treat, I was permitted to strike the first SFM medal from a fresh pair of dies. The old dies were being replaced due to erosion. The press used was an old, slow speed press of the arch style.

[RWB]

A true "first strike" label is in order!

[wdrob]

Interesting story David. That press you mention, would that be a coin press as Bill and I have assumed?

 

 

[Conder101]

When I struck my medal at the Philadelphia mint in 1976 it was a different design, the mint building on one side and the treasury seal on the other. The other mints were the same way with the mint side being the local mint. I can't see why the Denver and San Francisco mints would be striking a medal of the Philadelphia mint.

[DWLange]

Each mint struck only medals featuring that particular facility and carrying their own mintmarks. The Philadelphia medal was struck in Philly and likewise carried a P mintmark.

 

Yes, it was an old coining press similar to the one now in the forecourt of the ANA Headquarters.