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$1 and $3 made in SF without mintmark ?
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10 posts in this topic

The Western Union Telegraph Company

San Francisco, California

May 13, 1870

Hon. James Pollock, Director of Mint

Letter “S” omitted on one dollar and three dollar dies sent to this branch. For this year two thousand pieces coined, can they be issued?

O. H. Lagrange

Superintendent

Edited by RWB
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Well, we know that the mintmark on the only known 1870-S three-dollar piece was hand cut into the die, presumably at the SF Mint. I can't imagine 2,000 silver dollars were coined, when only ten or so are known today, so it must have been the gold dollar dies that were lacking a mintmark.

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Lagrange clearly says one and 3 dollar dies, but does not state the quantity of each. Here's the telegram image. Searching for additional documents.

625181616_18790303SF3dollarand1dollardiessent.thumb.jpg.effee251e0d3e38f22fdb6817d992202.jpg

Edited by RWB
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On 2/23/2022 at 5:40 PM, RWB said:

Lagrange clearly says one and 3 dollar dies, but does not state the quantity of each. Here's the telegram image. Searching for additional documents.

625181616_18790303SF3dollarand1dollardiessent.thumb.jpg.effee251e0d3e38f22fdb6817d992202.jpg

Given that a number of 2,000 coins is mentioned, would more than one set of each be needed?

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From Dan Owens, San Francisco area:

Telegram

Philadelphia May 14, 1870

To OH LaGrange

Supt. U.S. Br. Mint

Do not issue but recoin the pieces

Will send dies

Jas Pollock

Director U.S. Mint

Edited by RWB
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On 2/23/2022 at 7:12 PM, Nouzillet said:

Philadelphia told SF not to issue  them

re-coin them instead

dies were being sent

Telegram May 14th

Pollock to LaGrange

Thanks!

:)

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Received a copy of a Feb 2017 Numismatist article by Oliver & Kelly that includes the above and more. It largely wraps up the subject very nicely. (Sadly, there are no source references, but it's presumed the documents are in the San Bruno NARA facility.)

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