RWB Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 This little letter to the Philadelphia Mint shows that not only was Director Kimball aware of the potential for speculation in low mintage coins, but was actively trying to prevent it. He was also hoping to reduce pressure on proof coin manufacture, although is was a profitable business for the P Mint. Similar letters occur in the last part of other years during his term of office. [Note: The original journal was written in light gray ink with a fine point steel pen. The result was faint, difficult to photograph text.] GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henri Charriere Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 Formal Letter, 1888: "... you are authorized to cause to be coined ..." Cell call, 2022: "... gimme ten lahdge on the boids, across-duh-bawhd; fiver on the gelt pee-wees, hold the mayo..." GoldFinger1969 and Hoghead515 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingAl Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Huh. Kinda the opposite stance of Linderman, no? GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted November 23, 2022 Author Share Posted November 23, 2022 On 11/23/2022 at 12:38 AM, FlyingAl said: Huh. Kinda the opposite stance of Linderman, no? Not sure I understand.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henri Charriere Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 (edited) For my part, I was making light of the director's use of the stilted tongue common in that era. Perhaps Linderman was more accommodating to collectors... Edited November 23, 2022 by Quintus Arrius Clarification Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingAl Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 On 11/23/2022 at 7:54 AM, RWB said: Not sure I understand.... To me, based on the letters I've read to and from Director Linderman, he seemed to embrace the collector side of the hobby and didn't really care about creating rarities. It could just be me. Henri Charriere 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWB Posted November 23, 2022 Author Share Posted November 23, 2022 (edited) Kimball was dealing with low demand for new subsidiary silver and, like other directors, wanted the Mint to stay out of creation or support for coin speculation. This included issuing proofs to demand not a fixed quantity, and in the 1880s minting unnecessary circulation coins in quantities that, at the time, seemed great enough to prevent price manipulation. He was also concerned about proof sets and in 1889 refused to approve them until Congress had adjourned without acting on discontinuance of the 1, 3 dollar gold, and 3-cent CuNi. Edited November 23, 2022 by RWB Henri Charriere 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
