Sample 1942 silver nickel proof report.

[RWB]

From 1936 to 1938 proof coin delivery reports were simple: date and quantity delivered. But after 1938 more information was recorded and here we get a better picture of the quantities actually struck and delivered.

 

The sample below shows proof silver nickels produced beginning October 12, 1942. The list presents a brief explanation of each of the columns.

 

Column 1 on Left: Date planchets transferred to medal room.

Column 2 on Left: Number of planchets given to medal room by coiner.

Column 3 on Left: Number of proof coins returned to coining dept.

Column 4 on Left: Condemned planchets, bad proof, returns.

Column 5 on Left: Date proofs delivered to Cashier.

Column 6 on Left: [blank]

Column 7 on Left: Number of proof coins delivered to Cashier.

Column 8 on Left: Face value of the coins delivered.

 

 

Out of 58,000 silver alloy five cent planchets provided to the medal room, only 27,600 good coins were produced, or about 47%. This was within normal limits. At times, the percentage of good coins was under 35%.

 

[CaptHenway]

I am surprised that the percentage of good coins was so low!

[WoodenJefferson]

Column 4 on Left: Condemned planchets, bad proof, returns.

 

That indeed is a staggering amount?

[RWB]

Examination of other entries suggests that "Cond/Returned" included previous year leftovers, etc.

 

Pencil figures among ink entries are markers for counting purposes and not additional coins.

[CaptHenway]

I could see that the 1942 silver Proofs might have a high rate of return due to the planchet problems the had with manganese. There might have been streaking, small laminations, etc.

 

Is there a corresponding page for early 1943 showing returns from 1942?

[RWB]

No. When it was decided not to make proofs for 1943 the project ended and the man in charge of making proofs retired. This created a problem when the mint wanted to resume proofs in 1947 -- no one knew what to do. The same absence of communicating knowledge created problems in 1950 when the project was restarted.

[RWB]

Silver alloy bump