Quote:I didn't know that mint marks were done by hand. Is this a common attribute for
US coins of the era or something specific
Trade dollars?
The typical US dies were made with the mint mark in Philadelphia and shipped to the local mint.
On the
Trade dollar some dies were sent from Philadelphia with mint marks, but some of the dies mint marks were changed or added by hand at the local mints. Unless you know the specific variety it is very difficult to use the mint mark for authentication. For example, below on the 74CC
Trade dollar the mint mark size changes, CC spacing changes and the mint mark position changes.
1874-CC: Mintmark .74 mm high; .75 mm spacing between C's. "Micro CC."
1874-CC: Mintmark .84 mm high; .4 mm spacing between C's. "Minute CC."
1874-CC: Mintmark.9 mm high; .75 mm spacing between C's. "Minute CC."
1874-CC: Mintmark 1.1 mm high; .55 mm spacing between C's. "Medium CC." Dot on 8 of date on obverse.
1874-CC: Mintmark 1.1 mm high; .6 mm spacing between C's. "Medium CC." Slight doubled die on reverse.
1874-CC: Mintmark 1.17 mm high; .6 mm spacing between C's. "Tall CC."
1874-CC: Mintmark .74 mm high; .75 mm spacing between C's. "Micro CC."
1874-CC: Mintmark .84 mm high; .4 mm spacing between C's. "Minute CC."
1874-CC: Mintmark.9 mm high; .75 mm spacing between C's. "Minute CC."
1874-CC: Mintmark 1.1 mm high; .55 mm spacing between C's. "Medium CC." Dot on 8 of date on obverse.
1874-CC: Mintmark 1.1 mm high; .6 mm spacing between C's. "Medium CC." Slight doubled die on reverse.
1874-CC: Mintmark 1.17 mm high; .6 mm spacing between C's. "Tall CC."
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Posted 09/30/2017 11:29 pm
It certainly had me fooled.
