Among the many coin dealers at the 2016 Denver Coin Expo (May 4-7), had the opportunity to interview Dan Carr, owner, operator, engineer, designer, and, and........of "The Moonlight Mint".
Approached Mr. Carr about being interviewed on Thursday with "just need five minutes of your time" lead in. He inquired the subject, I replied - this - pointing to the products on tables between us. He smiled, a little. Cruised by several times Thursday, but did not see an opportunity for the interview, as there was usually three to five people at the table selecting purchases or talking about coins/minting.
Friday morning, like a hawk, I saw the opportunity. Approached Dan and asked if this was a good time for a brief interview.
Generally, I lead in with the normal question "What started you in collecting?". Today, we started with:
"What was the drive to mint your own coins? Was it the opportunity to buy a press?"
Dan indicated, three things made it so. Artwork, Drawings/Sketchs/Models, and engravings. Each portion played a part. Within each portion, more of Dan Carr played into this endeavor as well. Several computer programs were available to machine dies, but were inferior, because the programs were designed to cover a broad spectrum of applications, not dies for coining. What was a mechanical engineer do? Write his own program, specifically for coin dies. Higher quality for the specific application was the result of this "digital sculpting program".
By completing the above, the first medium Dan used to check the accuracy and quality was black acrylic. Which lead to engravings, then lead to cutting steel. "Digital to Die" is Dan's words. In my humble opinion, believe this is called passion...I could see this passion - in his facial expressions, hand gestures, tone of his voice, AND the products on the tables - his time, sweat, ideas.
After completing the above "Digital to Die", next step? You guessed it, mint some coins. After giving the work to two different outside sources, the results were not of the level expected. What does this lead to?
Dan stated the first opportunity to purchase the press did not happen. A single Grabener Press was listed in a 2001 Government Surplus Auction (GSA), but somebody else purchased the Grabener coin press. Press was offered to him, but passed again, as space for the press was not available. The third time, Dan made the agreement to purchase the press AND paid quite a sum of money just to have the NON WORKING 15000 pound press trucked to it's new home. Info about the Grabener press that is the centerpiece of "The Moonlight Mint"
http://www.moonlightmint.com/artifacts.htmI inquired about what started Dan in coins. He responded with collecting. Almost anything he could get his hands on.
Next question asked, "Why the pieces that you produce?". Dan smiled and said, "because I produce what a collector would want. I approach this from the collector standpoint." Octagon coins? Check. What should have been minted? Check.
Wise person once stated that "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".
http://www.moonlightmint.com/fakes.htmIn closing the interview, inquired about the name "Moonlight Mint" - what does this mean? Dan smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Not enough hours in the day. I wish there were 26 hours."
If you ever have the chance, seek Dan Carr out and ask questions. Believe you will have a better understanding of what "drives" a person....in this case, who would have ever thought, collecting coins would lead to OWNING and USING a modern coin press from the U.S. Mint, that would challenge the individual on every single level, of what makes a person themselves. Mechanical Engineer, Artist, Software Engineer, Business Person, Electrician, and, and......careful what you dream of, the dream just might happen!
http://www.moonlightmint.com/index_...image003.jpg
Posted 05/07/2016 01:06 am
