Are virtually all coins struck from transfer dies?

[Zoins]

Does the Mint create one or more master dies from which production dies are created via die transfers?

[IGWT]

Generally speaking: Master Hub --> Master Dies --> Working Hubs --> Working Dies

[Zoins]

Thanks

[physics-fan3.14]

Generally speaking: Master Hub --> Master Dies --> Working Hubs --> Working Dies

 

Is this process followed even for very low mintage coins. Probably nothing modern, because there are no low mintage coins, but how about something older, like classic commemoratives.

[skippy]

Generally speaking: Master Hub --> Master Dies --> Working Hubs --> Working Dies

 

Is this process followed even for very low mintage coins. Probably nothing modern, because there are no low mintage coins, but how about something older, like classic commemoratives.

 

In shield nickels, the changeover year was 1869. Prior to 1869, coins were struck directly from master dies.

 

In even earlier series, working dies were hand carved.

 

It would be my guess that the method used depends more on the date (available technology) than the mintage of the coins.

 

If you wanted to pursue this question further, I'd suggest looking at a whole bunch of coins that have a low mintage (e.g., 1997 matte Jefferson nickels, mintage 25,000), and see if you can determine by die markers whether multiple dies were used or not.