What In The Minting Process Can Cause Rim Separation?

The collar is the third die. There is the anvil die which strikes the one side of the coin. The hammer die which is the moveable die which strikes the other side of the coin. And the collar which is a ring shaped die which forms the edge of the coin. The collar die sits around the stationary anvil die. The collar moves back flush with the anvil die as a planchet is moved into striking position. The planchet is slightly smaller in diameter than the coin it produces. Then the collar slides up to surround the planchet. At this point the hammer die strikes the planchet forcing the diameter to expand out against the collar forming the edge of the coin. On dimes, quarters and half dollars the collar forms the reeding on the edge. On cents and nickels it forms the smooth edge. But this all happens in one process as the coin is struck. The finning mentioned above is caused when the striking pressure is too much for the thickness of the planchet causing metal to flow up between the collar and the neck of the die leaving this thin raised edge on the rim.

Sorry, but I can't help you with this one. I am only familiar with the minting process used at the US Mint and cutting down coins is not a process they use. Hopefully someone else has some insight. If you find the information outside of this forum please post it. I am curious myself.

just carl, your interest and willingness to pursue this at the coin show is appreciated, and I would love a follow-up on what the experts there have to say about 1 joule 'coin' minting process. Please keep in mind that Celestia, or The Nation of Celestial Space is considered to be micronation rather than an organization. In fact, the are the longest-lived micronations of all and, as you discovered, have their claimed, physical territory (all of outer space outside of the earth's atmosphere) legally deeded (in 1948) and filed with the Cook County, IL courts.

The purity of gold and silver is likely accurate and verified and reported in The Unusual World Coins catalog. Remember, in 1948, the US was still on the gold standard and gold was set at $34.71/oz, and in 1959-1961, when the gold 1 Celeston coins were struck, the price of gold had risen only to under $35.25/oz. Since the weight of each coin was a hair less than 2.2 grams, and few coins were produced, the cost was not prohibitive.

According to the collector from whom I purchased the silver 1 joule coin, some of the family of the founder of this micronation still remain. He has been in contact with family members for decades where he has obtained information not fully documented elsewhere.

I have decided to return the coin to the collector/seller of my silver 1 joule, and wait for a second one, without the extensive rim-separation condition issues, to come to market. This is the first and only one I've seen, but if I've seen one, eventually, I will see another. Thanks in advance for any information on the striking process of the coin that resulted in the separation as shown in the photos from this thread.