Coin quality and the Pyx 0

[RWB]

A while ago a member asked about checking coin quality during the Annual Assay Commission meeting ("Pyx"). Here is a letter from 1875 referring to both the technical and aesthetic (appearance) of coinage from the Carson Mint.

February 18, 1876

Hon. James Crawford.

Supt. U.S. Mint, Carson.

Sir:

I enclose herewith an extract from the report of the Assay Commission, showing the result of the Assay and weighing of the reserved coins from your mint during 1875.

Your attention is particularly invited to the fact, that all the packages received from your mint after the 1^st Quarter of 1875, were broken in transportation, the envelopes badly sealed, and the sealing wax of an inferior quality. In order to avoid a recurrence in the future of this condition of the packages, you are instructed to place the reserved coins in cloth lined envelopes carefully sealed with wax of the best quality.

In accordance with the 18^th Section of the Coinage Act of 1873, the Chairman of the Assay Commission has certified to the President of the United States, the fact that a Dime deficient in weight, was found among the reserved coins of the 2^nd period, received from the Mint at Carson. The Dime referred to was found in the reserved coins for the month of September, and was deficient in weight to the extent of 15.81 grains, or about 2/5 of the legal weight. I will thank you to cause a careful examination to be made, with a view to determine the true facts in the case, and report the result of your investigation to this office. The general appearance of the Carson reserved coins, showed a want of care or skill in striking the same – many of the pieces not having been properly brought up under the dies, some tarnished, and all of them coated or mixed with the pulverized sealing wax.

You are instructed to impress upon the Coiner the necessity for using every precaution, to not only bring the coins up to the prescribed standards of fineness and weight, but to present an appearance which will reflect credit upon the coinage of your institution.

Very respectfully

H.R. Linderman,

Director

 

Edited January 11, 2021 by RWB
Fix formatting - as usual

[Fenntucky Mike]

Ouch, that's harsh. 

[RWB]

A mint officer could be removed if a coin failed the annual test. Technical quality was taken very seriously.

[Fenntucky Mike]

Do dimes of this date (1875) reflect what is described in the letter, are they commonly found under weight/out of tolerance? I'm assuming the Director is talking about dimes produced in the second quarter of 1875 if so was it common for such a delay? If I'm reading it correctly almost a year has passed.

[Alex in PA.]

That is very interesting.

[VKurtB]

Since there is no longer any precious metal in circulating coinage, the assaying process has lost its primary purpose, but the Brits still do an annual Trial of the Pyx annually, which is held in a courtroom with barristers in the full ostentatious wigs and robes. Gotta love the Brits for the sheer pointlessness of their ceremonies and rituals. 

Edited January 11, 2021 by VKurtB

[Moxie15]

1 hour ago, VKurtB said:

Since there is no longer any precious metal in circulating coinage, the assaying process has lost its primary purpose, but the Brits still do an annual Trial of the Pyx annually, which is held in a courtroom with barristers in the full ostentatious wigs and robes. Gotta love the Brits for the sheer pointlessness of their ceremonies and rituals. 

tradition and history are extremely important to the British society. What we may see as pointless can be very important to them. 

[RWB]

3 hours ago, Fenntucky Mike said:

Do dimes of this date (1875) reflect what is described in the letter, are they commonly found under weight/out of tolerance? I'm assuming the Director is talking about dimes produced in the second quarter of 1875 if so was it common for such a delay? If I'm reading it correctly almost a year has passed.

The Director's complaint was about Carson Mint dimes in the pyx coins made during April-June 1875, so you'd have to check coins of that date and mint. Maybe a Carson or dime specialist can offer insights....?

As for the delay, the Assay Commission met only once a year, in February, to test the silver and gold coins made the previous calendar year. Each mint took samples from deliveries throughout the year, and sent them to the Philadelphia Mint for storage each quarter. The coins from each delivery were supposed to be kept separate so that a check could be made on the quality of each batch of coins. All annual assay coins were kept in a separate locked safe inside the Cashier's vault until the Annual Assay Commission met. A separate inventory was also required.

In this instance the meeting was in February 1876 to examine coins of 1875. The sealed envelopes were opened, coins counted, and inventory lists compared with the coin count by some of the Commissioners, known as the "Committee on Counting.". Another committee, the "Committee on Weighing," then randomly selected coins from several deliveries and weighed them. A third committee, the "Committee on Assaying" selected coins from either those weighed or the others or a combination, and performed destructive assay of the coins.

All the committees then met and the meeting secretary recorded all the data. Results were compiled, checked and sent to the President. No mint or Treasury officer could overrule the Commission or change data. If any committee reported a discrepancy from the legal tolerance - regardless of how sight - this was reported to the President of the United States and a investigation initiated.

[Original manuscript minutes of the Annual Assay Commission United States Mint 1800-1943 are available on a 4-DVD set by the same title.]

Edited January 12, 2021 by RWB