San Francisco Hoard Experimental Blanks And Planchets

San Francisco Hoard
By Matt Brigham, Brigham Numismatics

The San Francisco Hoard was a cache of blanks/planchets found in a safety deposit box which was owned by an employee of the San Francisco Mint. After they died, their son discovered the items and contacted Fred Weinberg. After a short investigation by the US Secret Service the items were released for auction by the State of California which Fred Weinberg purchased and sold around 2017.
The items were certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). I contacted NGC directly, Fred Weinberg, and Mike Byers seeking certification numbers of these items, but the records were not maintained and lost to history. Using example slabs out of my personal collection and Heritage Auction records - I have created a list of blanks and planchets which may be a complete list - there's no way of confirming this. I have found the hoard to contain (at least) the following:

(78) 40% Silver Clad Eisenhower dollar Blank Planchets (No Details).

14 of these planchets were determined to have proof-like surfaces by Fred Weinberg. It was not indicated on the holder. However, there is only one known certification number, which was featured in an article by Mike Byers. Page 26, https://minterrornews.com/issue36.pdf

(5) 40% Silver Clad Eisenhower dollar Blank Planchets (Experimental Rinse)


2041215-005 (Personal Collection)

It is not known with certainty what the purpose of the testing was for, but it is speculated that it was an anti-tarnish/spotting coating based on the markings. Two planchets are engraved. One is marked with a black marker. Two are marked with red marker. All planchets are unique/one-of-a kind.

2041215-001 Eisenhower 40% Silver Planchet Experimental Rinse Experimental Rinse "Etched DL"
2041215-002 Eisenhower 40% Silver Planchet Experimental Rinse Experimental Rinse "D-NITG"
2041215-003 Eisenhower 40% Silver Planchet Experimental Rinse Experimental Rinse "Squiggle N"
2041215-004 Eisenhower 40% Silver Planchet Experimental Rinse Experimental Rinse "Etched TR"
2041215-005 Eisenhower 40% Silver Planchet Experimental Rinse Experimental Rinse "Red Marks (Unreadable)"
*NGC DETAIL GRADE*

(11) Clad Eisenhower dollar Type I Blank (No Details)
A Type I blank has not gone through the burnishing or annealing process. No upright rim.

(58) Clad Eisenhower dollar Type II Blank (No Details)
These have gone through burnishing and annealing. No upright rim.

(1) Clad Eisenhower dollar Type II Blank Planchet
2041215-006 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Rinse Experimental Rinse "H"
*NGC DETAIL GRADE*

(13) Clad Eisenhower dollar Type II Blank Planchet (Experimental Upset)


2041173-026 (Personal Collection)

The upset rim appears almost to be split around the circumference of the item. The wall of the rim is much more sharp/squared than the typical Ike planchet which has more of a sloped appearance. Some sources say that these planchets may also be part of an experimental alloy composition, but I wasn't able to find reputable supporting evidence of this. Might have to conduct XRF analysis on this, which may not have been available at the time it was authenticated.

2041173-018 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041173-026 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041173-028 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041173-031 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041173-038 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041215-007 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041215-008 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041215-009 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041215-010 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041215-011 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041215-012 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041215-013 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
2041215-014 Eisenhower Clad Type 2 Planchet Experimental Upset
*NGC DETAIL GRADE*

(10) Clad Eisenhower dollar Type II Blank Planchet (Proof)

(83) 5C Jefferson Type II Blank Planchet (Proof)

(12) 5C Jefferson Type II Blank Planchet (Proof, Experimental Rinse)


2041211-005 (Personal Collection)

These planchets have a unique striped appearance to them. The edge of the item look more rounded than usual in my opinion.

For a complete list click the excel icon labeled "San Francisco Hoard List" at the top right of the page: https://mattbbrigham.wixsite.com/br...smatics/blog