Forward

    Hello to everyone once again!  Well, so far, I have appreciated this joint learning experience however, it appears a bit one sided.  I have appreciated the opportunity to share with you and I have been looking in vain for any written responce.
    It is certainly sad that there appears to be no interest, especially since writing a news article is a lot of work, and if there is not much interest I could sure use the study time somewhere else if you know what I mean.  Please keep our troops in your prayers and thank God we live in a nation where we can enjoy a hobby like our favorite one.

Introduction

    Last month we covered the introduction of the die making process.  This month we will look at the die making process a little more.  We will be looking at the process of making working dies from working hubs.  Remember from last month that the master hub has the design in the same relief, or raised configuration, as it is on the epoxy shell; the same as it will appear on the coin.

The Working Die

  Now, from last month, we remember how a master hub was made and how it made a master die.  Good, now after the master die is produced, it is placed in the same hydraulic machine, called a hubbing press, opposite a piece of steel like before.  Several working hubs will be produced from a master die.  These working hubs are used within the same process to create working dies.  Working dies are what are used in the coining process to strike a coin.
    Up until 1996, all dies were made at the Philadelphia Mint.  The Denver Mint then began producing dies for itself and the San Francisco Mint.  However, the designing and production of the master dies are still being done at the Philadelphia Mint.
    Until 1985, all mint marks were hand punched on each individual working die.  This is where we see many of the variations of mint marks.  I am sure you could name a few of them yourself.  We will touch on these later, so remember this portion of the text.  Ok, in 1985, the mint mark was added to the master die for all proof coinage (thus ending a collector legacy within the proof field) and the following year, the mint mark was added to the original plaster model (oops, that ended a lot of collecting).  Also, in 1990, the mint marks for the cent (cent business strikes for Philadelphia do not have a mint mark) and nickel were added at the master die stage and the following year the dime, quarter and half were also done (now you may adjust your mint mark variety collecting accordingly).  So, repunched mint mark varieties have been eliminated.  They are now transferred during the hubbing processat the point of pressing.  Remember that the Mint likes quality control as long as it doesn't interfere with production.  Don't be concerned, there are still thousands of mint mark varieties that can be collected.

Refresher

    Remember that the plaster sculpture, the epoxy shell, the master hubs and the working hubs reflect the image design in relief like a coin image.  Master and working dies have the same image incused like a mirror image of the design that will appear on the coin.  A mirror image is opposite sides and is impressed into the metal, not raised.  When a master hub is used to make a master die, there were a number of impressions necessary to strike the image complete.  There have been changes here and we will touch on them in upcoming articles.  Remember also that it is the working dies that strike coins and each one can strike up to 250,000.

In Search of the Double Die

    When I am talking about a doubled die, I am referring to a coin whick has a double or partially doubled image, or letters, and or numbers.  Remember that a doubled die is a die that will reflect the same pattern as the coin, so every coin that the die strikes is doubled.  This doesn't mean the coin has been struch twice like so many people think.  The correct term to be used is actually "doubled die coin".
    Ok, from the refresher (remember everything from here on until the end of the article on doubled die coins is past tense), we know that to make a master die, there are at least two hubbings or more required (up to 12 were done to create a Morgan and Peace dollar).  Here is the first process that could result in a doubled die.  If the hub and the die are not properly aligned between hubbings, we could have a doubled image.  There are a number of classes of doubled dies and each is a little different.  I hope to share with you how each one is made and what to look for.  You will be surprised how many valuable coins you can find.
    One more thing, if the Membership and the Board wish, we can continue these articles to include the various types and expand it to cover errors as well.  I have offered free coins for homework and that hasn't worked.  Now, I am offering the continuance of these articles.  If there is no interest, I will stop and this will be my last one.  Let your board members know how you feel or write to me at the address listed below.  God Bless.

P.S.
I look forward to seeing all of you after this semester.  Again, I didn't have time to proof this so please forgive the composition errors and spelling.  Write me anytime.

    TCC
    Questions and Answers
    PO Box 1301
    Chesapeake, VA 23327