Orleans Strikes

Well I just finished digging a 30 foot long 6 feet deep and 6 foot wide hole. Placing a new filter bed and septic line and then filling it. So I AM BEAT!! I will re-read this in the AM when I am not wishing I was asleep.

Is there any written documentation in the form of correspondence between the New Orleans mint to any officials with the mint on this issue?

? Improper annealing on the planchet's ?

ZW, While I like to be informed as much as I could, I would agree with you that in my post, on this topic, I referred to the Master dies, I , like you pointed out obviously meant the working dies, I also would like to address the "fact" that basining does have an effect on die life, I know these dies are treated with polishing compounds during the basining process, bringing the entire die to a polished or mirrorlike finish, as the finer compound they used the finer the mirror look would be, then the dies would receive a true buffing.
As the basined and polished die struck coins, the friction of the planchet metal moving against the die field would "WEAR THE DIE" surfaces making them dull, the mirror surface would gradually be less and less reflective until it became semi-proof-like and finally dull with no reflection.This is not to say that basined dies are the reason for the die wear,(could be) but because the basining process was used to help creat the dies, it could be said it has to do with die wear.

In my opinion this would lessen the life of the dies, being treated this way.....So I would kindly dis-agree with some of your statements. Also you pointed out, and seemingly believe that basining has nothing to do with the shaping of the dies, I would again agree to dis-agree, Basining Morgan silver dollars was done at each mint prior to their being placed into the presses, it consisted of putting the dies upright in a fixture, which held the die face against a slightly "dished" disk, as the disk revolved it polished the die face "making it convex",( shaping) the radius of this curvature varied with each mint and caused the planchet metal to flow more towards the coin rim or coins center in the most extreme cases, This resulted in the "weakly struck center coins with full rims, typical of the New Orleans Mint", or the fully struck center design and rounded rims typical of the San Francisco Mint....In my opinion this would have to do with the life of the dies........This is just my opinion, and then some....
I certainly enjoy knowledge and respect those who have it and are not afraid to share it....ZW, I know you are more than familiar with the minting process's and I do enjoy reading your very interesting posts, please keep it up.....

Are you o k ? LOL..

Really? I rather doubt that Mike, or possibly you do not know me well enough that you should request such a thing. Ask the others first, they have heard enough of my rhetoric, and they ask for no more.

That which I consider truth is documented by those who wrote the history in their own time, in their own words, and is now found in the Mint Archives. That which I believe to be possible (and not), is based on my own different areas of education. I neither accept or will continue to debate those beliefs that others hold dear based on the concurrence of ten different websites that plagiarize each other. I stand alone here, but there are others elsewhere with whom I share reciprocally.

While I will say I do not 'know' you, I have become more than familiar with your obvious knowledge and was serious when I asked for more, as OZ suggests, We want to learn.......I am always willing to take the time to read, and learn about the things that I enjoy.......I would appreciate your continued input!