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 Replies: 21 / Views: 4,515 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
I know that at least through some time in the 1830s the mint was still using screw presses, but I've been unable to find an exact date or series that was the demarcation point for when they switched to modern minting technology. I would be very grateful for as much of a history lesson as people are willing to give on minting technology, since I know very little about classic US coins and would like to learn more. |
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Valued Member
 United States
456 Posts |
SamCoin I have wondered about this as well. Recognized types exist because in 1828-1830 the mint began using "collars" on silver Capped Bust dimes and quarters. These provided more uniformity in diameters and reduced the physical size of the quarter. Corresponding addition of the steam press in about 1837, allowing production of Christian Gobrecht's new designs for every coin from Half Cent through $10, to be minted more quickly and uniformly. I don't know how US coins were made before these advancements. I would expect that it was more modern than 5 strokes from a sledge hammer on an anvil. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3237 Posts |
@Sharkman thank you! The information on collars is much appreciated. I didn't know that, and very interesting!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4680 Posts |
Don't quote me, but if I remember it was in the 1836-38 window. Certainly no later given the switchover to the reeded edge bust halves in 1838 1836, though I'm not sure of an exact date on the switch over to steam without doing a little digging. Edit: 1838 typo for reeded edge  Edited by Ty2020b
01/30/2022 9:35 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10029 Posts |
Sorry I do not know the answer, but thought you might like a picture of the original US coin press as displayed at the 1914 PPIE in SanFrancisco.  How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11880 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
4628 Posts |
But I heard they were making screw press coins in 1834, such as the set presented to Rama III of Thailand. Commercially not until 1836 though I guess.
The UK got it earlier in November 1816 for all coins, but the Soho Pennies and Twopences from 1797, along with more copper from 1799 to 1807 were the first followed by the Bank Token coinage of 1811/16.
Some private copper tokens of 1790 onwards also seem to have been made with these machines, my oldest is the one with the Coolbrookdale bridge and Keigley plane dated 1792, although its collar is not perfect.
France seems to have been using it from about 1800 as I have Napoleonic coins that are perfectly round and collared.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9862 Posts |
I had always believed that the first steam powered presses at the mint were screw presses.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
Edited by DBM
01/30/2022 8:23 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
I would think 1836 because that is when bust halves started to get their reeded edge.
Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4680 Posts |
Adding a couple images of the first press mentioned in the link NS posted. Took these shots at the ANA museum while on display there. And a cropped image of the placard.    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
Thanks for all the great information everybody!
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Moderator
United States
187556 Posts |
A very interesting topic!  |
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Valued Member
United States
456 Posts |
Can anyone tell me about screw presses which I know nothing about. How did they work? Did the mint use them from 1792 to 1836? How were the screws driven? Hard to imagine human power for this. Mules on a treadmill?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4680 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
According to Mr. Roger Burdette's diligent records searching, the screw press was retired in 1893. Proof, specimen, master coins and medals were all struck using one of several until replaced with hydraulic presses that year.
For those interested in this sort of stuff, I highly recommend his book From Mine to Mint (2013).
ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
Edited by Ballyhoo
01/31/2022 9:27 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
As mentioned the first coinage was March 23, 1836. It was supposed to be Feb 22, Washingtons Birthday, but some technical problems delayed the start. They even struck a token to mark the event and on the originals you can see where the Feb 22 date has been changed to Mar 23. (Originals are scarce but there are prenty of restike pieces that don't show the corrected date)
Not all the coinage immediately switched over to the steam press. The started with Large Cents and half dollars but by 1837 all the circulation coins were being struck on steam presses. As Ballyhoo points out the screw press continued to be used for proof and pattern coin production until 1893.
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Replies: 21 / Views: 4,515 |
Posted 01/30/2022 5:12 pm
