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 Replies: 19 / Views: 5,948 |
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Valued Member
United States
484 Posts |
I have always heard that the Philadelphia mint was more prone to mistakes because of quality control issues but I usually find circulated coins so I cannot truly see the difference. It being a new year I have taken a moment to step back and absorb the little details and what a strange difference. To me certain things are better at Denver but there seems to be a few things that are a little better at Philadelphia sometimes. Would enjoy others opinions on the subject.   Denver  Philadelphia  Denver  Philadelphia   |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Over-all, the Philly mint has/had a lower quality control issue for a very long time. John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Just a thought. Comparing the same issue from two different mints like this cannot be conclusive. The age of any die and the number of strikes it produced will vary in the quality of details on any given coin.
It certainly could be true that quality control is better at one mint than another but I think this observation here won't tell us much.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
 The final product is heavily dependent on the state of the dies used, so there may not be much to glean from this comparison. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Valued Member
 United States
484 Posts |
I only use this comparison because the age of the coin and the fact that the Denver coin even though having more circulation damage is still in better condition.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
How can the term "quality control" even apply to the cents made at either facility?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3632 Posts |
Denver switched coining presses from the vertical multi-head Bliss Press to the horizontal-strike Schuler Press in 2004-2005, depending on denomination. Philadelphia made the switch later (in the 2010s). That was the main reason for most of the early century strike quality differences. Even on the Zincolns, many have noted the beautiful mirror surfaces of the Denver coins of this era (at least until they all turn into piles of Zinc Oxide dust).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1667 Posts |
it's not quality control, I honestly believe it has something to do with the altitude and striking pressures and is out of their control even using the same settings or trying to adjust for it.
Denver: 5,280 ft elevation
Philadelphia: 39 ft elevation
Denver is about 20kPa higher than Philadelphia, 20% or so not much but it's got to do something. it's about 200 bar higher pressure due to elevation difference I think. Something like that.
the press doesn't necessarily explain it, West Point uses the vertical presses still, and the 2019 W quarters were better than the Denver ones and stood out in a roll. but we know West Point is slower and using higher pressure on other setting to do what they do.
You'd think Denver has cleaner air being a mile up but they pollute it nicely by themselves. LOL it's not air quality or a cleaner facility doing it. I think it's the elevation adding extra pressure to the strikes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
Could also be related to the volume of products produced at the individual locations. I think Philly turns out a bit more.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1667 Posts |
Philly does do a bit more most years but that's not it, both mints outputs are comparable, Denver isn't really going that much slower and sometimes they produce more.
As far as quality control they sample the press bins before dumping it into a bigger bin looking for something so messed up that they would need to scrap the entire run bin, but other than that they aren't striking coins for collectors they are striking coins that are fit for circulation and scratches and stuff just don't matter for that purpose even a weaker strike or a die that's still working but worn down might be used as long as it's fit for commerce still, it passes quality control measures.
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New Member
24 Posts |
I've always thought that Denver had more of a brilliant finish to the coins. The modern philly coins to me look satiny.
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Valued Member
United States
484 Posts |
I would have to agree with you 44dovers.
That is the first thing that caught my eye and made me want to ask other people's opinions.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quality control? Why bother?
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Valued Member
United States
484 Posts |
Why bother? So we can have these pretty shiny coins to collect in all different varieties.
Can you imagine how horrible getting a coin graded would be if quality control is completely thrown out the window?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
743 Posts |
I agree. The fresh Denver Mint coins I find are always struck better and the fields are a lot cleaner.
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Valued Member
United States
484 Posts |
Thank you, Jason39305 that is what I am trying to make people see. Without using such specific words I guess I can't help them understand what I mean.
Edited by My2cent
06/14/2021 10:29 pm
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Replies: 19 / Views: 5,948 |
Posted 05/31/2021 09:27 am
