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Posted 06/17/2010 12:59 am
Philadelphia was supplying the dies but as they wore it was up to the branch to polish and basin the dies was it not? Likewise maintain the presses which ran at breakneck speed. The mechanical aspect of press maintenance must have been continual. Worn and broken parts daily.
A few possibilities:
some branches had far more skilled/dedicated workers
San Fransisco surely had more comfortable working conditions than New Orleans, 70º vs 100º
Perhaps the basining in San Fransisco fell to a very skilled worker who enjoyed rejuvenating a worn die whereas that job in New Orleans fell to a trainee who not only lacked skill but hurried the job as it was done in a particularly hot uncomfortable part of the work room.
Didnt New Orleans have the majority of the overprints? O/CC etc. I always had the impression New Orleans got all the 'hand me down' dies and parts and tools from the other mints.
All conjecture in 2010. I have a lot of O Morgans and oddly most are decently if not very well struck whereas I've got some other mintmarks that are really soggy. I love them all.
A few possibilities:
some branches had far more skilled/dedicated workers
San Fransisco surely had more comfortable working conditions than New Orleans, 70º vs 100º
Perhaps the basining in San Fransisco fell to a very skilled worker who enjoyed rejuvenating a worn die whereas that job in New Orleans fell to a trainee who not only lacked skill but hurried the job as it was done in a particularly hot uncomfortable part of the work room.
Didnt New Orleans have the majority of the overprints? O/CC etc. I always had the impression New Orleans got all the 'hand me down' dies and parts and tools from the other mints.
All conjecture in 2010. I have a lot of O Morgans and oddly most are decently if not very well struck whereas I've got some other mintmarks that are really soggy. I love them all.
