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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,480 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
899 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
I think its pretty common in China.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
899 Posts |
That's one area I did not think of..I will have to see if I can find any thing from China.. There is no sign of silver or silver plate on this round, just solid brass...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
931 Posts |
When I was a die cutter for Josten's they would do test strikes out of any planchets that they had laying around. I have a collection of scrap metal medallions that were silver or gold in their final form. Now that I've looked closely I see the differences that you're talking about in the lettering. I'd like to buy one of those silver lion rounds. It's really a beautiful design (update) I found two 1985 rounds on ebay with the same design. I bought one so there is still one available. The seller is 100% with over 6300 sales so hopefully it isn't silver plated brass. I will be listening for a big ring from that Idaho silver. Edited by junior e
08/26/2011 11:29 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
899 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
931 Posts |
I don't have calipers or a micrometer but I will weigh it and measure it. I'll get back to you.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
931 Posts |
I came up with 31.5 grams and 38.6 mm. The registration number on mine is 2020. It is really a beauty other than a few soap spots, but luckily they are on the side opposite the lion.
Edited by junior e
08/29/2011 4:36 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
899 Posts |
Thanks junior e....From what I have been able to find this design was first made in 1984, with the same design used in 1985 and 1986.
I bought the brass piece from a collector who collected silver rounds for 30 years. As you pointed out and I agree completely that this one in brass is a test piece of that design. It would be nice to find out who minted these..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
931 Posts |
I looked into it today and I have a feeling it was made by The Sunshine Mint. Who knows? Back then it could have been the Coeur D'Alene Mint. I even checked in to see if they need any experienced die cutters. I have been looking for mints in Coeur D'Alene and just Sunshine so far. I've never had a registered silver round before. I'm catching art bar and coin fever as I bought a one ounce bar with a great profile bust of Eisenhower last night. I sniped it for $45 at the last second and others were trying to re-bid but I got 'em. You're right about the Freedom Lion being a beauty in hand. Are those soap spots on the eagle side of yours? I don't mind because it was the Lion side that floored me and it's pretty clean.
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Moderator
 Australia
16849 Posts |
Quote:
I spoke with the Sunshine Minting Co. and they said it is not normal to have a pattern / trial one made in any other medals except silver. I would tend to agree. Making brass replicas or trials would have been a no-no for a company making silver rounds, even if they were all locked away in the company vault or a museum someplace. They'd only be able to sell their silver if people trusted their name, and if there were official-looking lightweight brass copies out there that could be dunked in silver wash to look more realistic, that wouldn't have been good for their reputation and image. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
931 Posts |
After the die cutter cuts the die it then goes to a cleaner who polishes any lines the cutter may have left. Then the die is hardened and they do some test strikes in any soft metal available and that test piece is inspected and okayed by tool and die and the production department. At any private mint there are barrels full of these worthless test strikes and the fancy ones are usually given to the guy that cut the die as a souvenir of the two to five days that it took him to model the lion and the mountain scene. A secretary at the front desk seldom gets back to tool and die, so she would hardly know every procedure taken in the design and manufacturing process. I worked in the same department that makes the Super Bowl Rings and World Series Rings, so it is a respected company. All I know for sure is how Jostens does business, but counterfeit pieces were never a problem. Their reputation made most of the professional teams keep coming back.
Edited by junior e
08/29/2011 8:54 pm
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,480 |
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Posted 08/25/2011 8:35 pm
