to CCF. Need better pics front and back.
Posted 11/20/2014 6:17 pm
Hey there and thanks for posting your coins. The new hub design introduced in 1864 with a Pointed Bust and the letter 'L' in the ribbon was not created until the end of 1864 (Steve and Flynn 1995). This means it would have been impossible for an 1863 'L' to exist, just as an 1863 bronze is impossible.
Indian Head cents were hammered from thick copper-nickel planchets from 1859 through 1864. The Coinage Act of 1864, passed in April of that year, stipulated that the cents be made of bronze and be thinner. The problem was that the copper-nickel cents were being hoarded and the price of nickel became too high to be cost-effective in the mintage of cents. Undoubtedly, the mint was also frustrated with the use of the 'German silver' to make the 'white cents' because the copper-nickel planchets were very hard and caused the dies to fail prematurely. In fact, it was reported in mint records that the dies could last for 2 days or only the very first strike. I speculate that they were happy to switch to bronze.
The 1863 in your photo appears to be a 'dig' coin, which was recovered with a metal detector. It exhibits extensive corrosion, but don't let that turn off your curiosity!
Indian Head cents were hammered from thick copper-nickel planchets from 1859 through 1864. The Coinage Act of 1864, passed in April of that year, stipulated that the cents be made of bronze and be thinner. The problem was that the copper-nickel cents were being hoarded and the price of nickel became too high to be cost-effective in the mintage of cents. Undoubtedly, the mint was also frustrated with the use of the 'German silver' to make the 'white cents' because the copper-nickel planchets were very hard and caused the dies to fail prematurely. In fact, it was reported in mint records that the dies could last for 2 days or only the very first strike. I speculate that they were happy to switch to bronze.
The 1863 in your photo appears to be a 'dig' coin, which was recovered with a metal detector. It exhibits extensive corrosion, but don't let that turn off your curiosity!
Edited by Drsandman2
11/20/2014 6:19 pm
11/20/2014 6:19 pm
