Reaason for no 1878-O silver dollars 0

[RWB]

Messrs. Robert Wetherill & Co.

Chester, Penna.

 October 5, 1878

 

Gentlemen,

            Owing to the prevalence of yellow fever at New Orleans since July last, we have been unable to procure detailed estimates of the amount and different kinds of machinery required, and the expenses of equipping a sylphuric acid refinery at the Mint in that city.

            Considering these facts and the limited amount of the appropriation for this purpose, it has been decided to reject all bids opened at this office on the first instant.

            Having already one coining press, we will not contract for the manufacture of a second one at this time.

            Your bid for the manufacture of a hydraulic press and that of Orr, Hess & Morgan of Philadelphia being the same $2,000, we have decided to ask a new bid from both parties for this machine as well as for a grinding machine, the latter to be supplied with an emery wheel.

            I will thank you to inform this office as early as practicable of the price at which you will construct these machines.

            The bid of Messrs. Orr, Hess & Morgan for a grinding machine was considerably less than yours; but we deem it but justice to you to afford you an opportunity to again compete for the manufacture of that machine.

            Very respectfully

            Robert E. Preston, Acting Director

 

The first New Orleans Mint Morgan dollars were delivered Feb 27 (10,000) and Feb 28 (12,000)

Edited December 4, 2022 by RWB

[GoldFinger1969]

So 1878-0's were never minted or just delayed ?

[Henri Charriere]

I believe it safe to assume minting of coins does not stop on the last day of the old year and pick up again, with new dies, on the second day of the new year.

Edited December 5, 2022 by Quintus Arrius
Omit duplicated word

[Sandon]

   The New Orleans mint closed in 1861 after the State of Louisiana and subsequently the Confederacy took control of the mint and used up its supply of silver and gold to coin half dollars and double eagles using U.S. dies (except for the very rare half dollars with the Confederate reverse).  It didn't reopen until 1879. There are no "O" mint coins dated from 1862 through 1878 inclusive.  The Charlotte and Dahlonega mints closed under similar circumstances in 1861 and never reopened.  (All of this information may be obtained from the "Redbook".)

   The letter reproduced by RWB shows that preparations to reopen the mint were under way in the autumn of 1878 but were being affected by the yellow fever epidemic and related difficulties in obtaining necessary equipment. It's not clear whether the reopening was originally scheduled for 1878 or 1879.

[RWB]

On 12/4/2022 at 6:32 PM, Sandon said:

preparations to reopen the mint were under way in the autumn of 1878 but were being affected by the yellow fever epidemic and related difficulties in obtaining necessary equipment. It's not clear whether the reopening was originally scheduled for 1878 or 1879.

Preparations had begun in late 1877 and the plan was to bring New Orleans on line July 1 1878. The added minting capacity was needed.

[RWB]

On 12/4/2022 at 6:27 PM, Quintus Arrius said:

I believe it safe to assume minting of coins does not stop on the last day of the old year and pick up again, with new dies, on the the second day of the new year.

Not safe to assume that. Depending on demand and production rates, coins could be struck up to the end of Dec 31, and then resumed with new-year dies on the first working day on the new calendar year. In rare instances, such as 1907, coins were struck into the New Year when the Philadelphia Mint's "clock mysteriously failed just before midnight." This allowed more MCMVII double eagles to be made to keep TR happy.

[GoldFinger1969]

On 12/4/2022 at 8:07 PM, RWB said:

Not safe to assume that. Depending on demand and production rates, coins could be struck up to the end of Dec 31, and then resumed with new-year dies on the first working day on the new calendar year. In rare instances, such as 1907, coins were struck into the New Year when the Philadelphia Mint's "clock mysteriously failed just before midnight." This allowed more MCMVII double eagles to be made to keep TR happy.

So they worked up to midnight at year-end to get in "last licks" on coins ?  You couldn't use the 1907 or MCMVII dies for a few days in early-January 1908 ?

With currency, the dates can be years out of date when they are printed; other items on the face/back change.

[RWB]

Coinage dies expire at the end of the calendar year --- but if the clock stops and nobody notices..... Congress and many State Legislatures have been known to "stop the clock" so work can be completed.

[Nouzillet]

In the SFBM’s  Paying Clerks Ledger or Blotter covering in part the years 1861-1862 they listed the following deliveries of  Seated quarters (Redbook Mintage 96,000)

On August 3rd 20,000 delivered On October 16th 28,000 On December 28th 28,000  sub total 76,000

The final 20,000 1861 S Seated quarters were not delivered from the Coiner until January 13th of 1862               
 

The next delivery of Seated quarters was made on May 28th 1862 and consisted of 12,000 coins On May 31st 12,000, on July 15th 12,000 on August 9th 4,000 on September 9th 20,000 and on November 20th 7,000 for a total mintage of 67,000 1862 S Seated quarters 

Note I do not know when the final mintage of 1861-S Seated quarters were actually struck 

I think it could have been in January of 1862

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RWB]

I should note that it was ordinary practice to delivery coins of the previous year if there was some reason to prevent delivery in the correct calendar year. Reasons included late production and no time to review and adjust before new year; intervening holidays; unexpected schedule changes.