David Finkelstein wrote:
Some of my recent research has resulted in some new
theories about screw press die creation and coinage production from 1793 -
1836. Some of my theories seem logical. Some need to be
refined. Had all inclusive documents been written by those employed at the
Mint about their technologies, procedures, and logistics, and available today
for our review, all of our questions would be easily answered.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. Like so many of us that are
performing research now, and those that have performed research in the past, we
many times use the coins as indirect evidence to prove our
theories.
Since I have collected Bust Half Dollars by die
marriage, and some die marriages by die state, I am aware of several Bust Half
Dollar die marriages that were struck from rotated dies. For example, I am
aware of the following rotations on 1813 O-101 50 / UNI Half Dollars: no
rotation, 10 degrees counterclockwise, 10 degrees clockwise, 30 degrees
clockwise, 45 degrees clockwise, and 90 degrees clockwise. Images of coins
that verify this are available in the Heritage Past Auction Archives. I
know that I have seen other dates / die marriages of Bust Half Dollars that were
struck from rotated dies, but I never maintained a log. Why? It was
not important to me until now.
I am reaching out to the participants of the JR
Newsletter. If you are aware of a copper, silver (but NOT a Capped Bust
Half Dollar) or gold coin dated from 1793 to 1836 that was struck from rotated
dies, please email me at dfinkelstein(at)comcast.net with
the date, die marriage, degree of rotation, whether the dies were rotated
clockwise or counterclockwise, and your source if possible (collection,
inventory, or a specific auction). Again, no information about Capped Bust
Half Dollars is needed as I believe that there were probably more die marriages
of Capped Bust Half Dollars that were struck from rotated dies than all other
die marriages of all other denominations combined. Note that I do need
information about Small Eagle and Heraldic Eagle Half Dollars that were struck
from rotated dies.
To determine the degree of die rotation, hold the
coin or slab such that the date is at the 6:00 clock position. Flip the
coin from front to back at the 6:00 or 12:00 clock position. If the dies
were not rotated from each other, then the reverse will look normal with the
eagle perfectly vertical or the letters of HALF CENT / LARGE CENT
horizontal. If a rotation is visible, then guess the number of degrees
that the reverse is rotated from no rotation. Also, the direction of the
rotation is clockwise if the bottom of the reverse is to your left and
counterclockwise if the bottom of the reverse is to your right. If you
look at images of auction lots, keep in mind that if the coin was struck from
rotated dies, the images of the obverse and reverse will most likely show no die
rotation, but the images of the coin in the slab will show the die
rotation.
Also, and most importantly, if you specialize in a
specific series, and you have never seen a coin in that series that was struck
from rotated dies, please let me know as well. Some of you may already
know which dates (and possibly which die marriages) were struck from rotated
dies, or whether you have never seen a coin struck from rotated dies. What
may be known to you, will probably be unknown to me.
Hopefully I will receive enough responses, with
minimal conflicting information. I know I may be opening up a can of
worms, however, it will take me forever to review every 1793 - 1836 dated coin
that previously sold at auction or currently up for auction on every auction
website.
If I receive enough information such that I publish
my theories in the John Reich Journal, I will reference the information in my
article as "Information provided by the subscribers of the John Reich
Newsletter". I thank you in advance for your support.
David Finkelstein
dfinkelstein(at)comcast.net
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Also, a friendly reminder about the EAC Convention:
2014 EAC Convention - Colorado Springs, CO
Dates: Thursday May 1, 2014 through Sunday May 4, 2014
The Doubletree Colorado Springs
1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 8090
719-576-890
The Doubletree Colorado Springs
1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 8090
719-576-890
