1879 s struck from rusted dies 1 1

[Melior Invenidiste]

[Melior Invenidiste]

[Melior Invenidiste]

[Melior Invenidiste]

[Melior Invenidiste]

[Melior Invenidiste]

Die rust Pitting or roughness appearing on a coin as a result of that coin having been struck by a rusted die. Die state A readily identified point in the life of a coinage die. Dies go through a lifecycle - clashing, being polished, cracking, breaking, etc. These are called die states. [>>>]

[Melior Invenidiste]

Die polishing is apparent. What is peculiar is the definition of the strike and the devices. Usually a rusted die presents low quality.

 

 

[RWB]

When steel rusts, the metal expands. The visible effects on a coin struck from a rusted die are: 1) irregular depressions in the surface, and 2) soft definition due to the low density of iron oxide compared to normal die steel.

[Henri Charriere]

Surely advances must have since been made in the science of metalurgy.. When did die-rusting effectively become a thing of the past?

[RWB]

Completed dies were coated with oil and shipped in sealed boxes with sawdust packing. The oil was removed just before use. Once a die failed and was condemned, it was considered "scrap iron" and given no special treatment (except cancellation).

It was up to the Coiner - or really the Coining Room foreman - to inspect dies before use and decide if they were suitable.

Most past attributions as "rust" were really from "spalling." The Morgan dollar realm is especially cluttered with incorrect "rust."

[RWB]

An aside comment: The sawdust referred to was from basswood and was actually made at the Philadelphia Mint !

Here's an excerpt from a September 1885 inventory of equipment:

"One circular saw built by the Rollingstone Manufacturing Co."

"One circular saw and screen for making sawdust for Coiner’s uses."

(The full machinery/equipment list will be in More Mint to Mint.)

Here's a letter confirming the use of basswood for sawdust:

May 21, 1892

 Superintendent,

Mint U.S.

Philadelphia, Penna

 Sir:

Referring to your letter of April 2^nd, in explanation of the entry in your statement of earnings and expenditures for the quarter ended December 31, 1891, of eleven dollars and ninety cents ($11.90), for sawdust furnished the Carson Mint, you are informed that this amount should not appear in this statement. As the amount was to reimburse you for the basswood and labor in converting the same into sawdust, you are informed that it should have been deposited in the Treasury as proceeds of material sold. In order to reimburse your appropriation, the proper way would have been for your to have rendered a bill to the Department when an account would have been stated, and the amount transferred on the book of the Department from the appropriation for the Carson Mint to those of your Mint.

            It will therefore be necessary for you to deposit this amount in the Treasury as proceeds of material sold.

            Respectfully yours.

            Robert E. Preston,

            Acting Director of the Mint

Edited December 6, 2022 by RWB

[Crawtomatic]

On 12/6/2022 at 11:43 AM, RWB said:

May 21, 1892

 Superintendent,

Mint U.S.

Philadelphia, Penna

 Sir:

Referring to your letter of April 2^nd, in explanation of the entry in your statement of earnings and expenditures for the quarter ended December 31, 1891, of eleven dollars and ninety cents ($11.90), for sawdust furnished the Carson Mint, you are informed that this amount should not appear in this statement. As the amount was to reimburse you for the basswood and labor in converting the same into sawdust, you are informed that it should have been deposited in the Treasury as proceeds of material sold. In order to reimburse your appropriation, the proper way would have been for your to have rendered a bill to the Department when an account would have been stated, and the amount transferred on the book of the Department from the appropriation for the Carson Mint to those of your Mint.

            It will therefore be necessary for you to deposit this amount in the Treasury as proceeds of material sold.

            Respectfully yours.

            Robert E. Preston,

            Acting Director of the Mint

Not exactly a proper paraphrase but this scene did come to mind:

 

Director of Mint - You run the joint. Maybe I'll try to help you, all right.

Phila. Superintendent - God bless you, Paulie Robert. I appreciate it. You've always been fair with me.

- Now the guy's got Paulie Robert as a partner. Any problems, he goes to Paulie Robert. Trouble with a bill, he can go to Paulie Robert.

- Trouble with the cops, deliveries, Tommy - he can call Paulie Robert.

- Now the guy's gotta come up with Paulie's Robert's money every week no matter what.

- Business is bad? F you, pay me. Had a fire? F you, pay me. The place got hit by lightning? F you, pay me.

- Also, Paulie Robert could do anything. Especially run up bills on the joint's credit.

- And why not? Nobody's gonna pay for it anyway.

- When deliveries are made at the front door you move the stuff out the back and sell it at a discount.

- You take a two hundred dollar case of booze Morgan Dollars and sell it for a hundred.

Edited December 6, 2022 by Crawtomatic