VAMWorld 2.0

Members might find this little letter for April 1878 of interest. April 30, 1878 Hon. H. R. Linderman Director of the Mint Washington, D.C. Sir: I herewith transmit report of coinage executed at this Mint during the current month or April. This exhibits the unprecedented amount of $2,010,000 silver ...

Here's some late 1909 cost per 1,000 of various denominations excluding metal. This covers all mint expenses except shipping. It was intended as an example for foreign coin customers.

If you want to corral the "value of the VAM," you'll need two coins in identical grades: one with the VAM and one without. The difference in sale price is what someone might pay for the variety.

"10 Highest Sales of Silver Dollars with VAM Varieties Identified for 2022."

Re: "Maybe Roger has seen some documentation relating that they were returned unused reverse dies?" If you meant me, here is some relevant information. Beginning in 1881 the Mint Director required all previous year dies returned the Engraving Dept. The Engraver then matched the dies with his list of...

"A flap of silver must make a different noise, right?"

Compared to.....?

Try it on dolphins, too. They "ping."

This Congressional inquiry might also relate to the cost of coinage.

Just to add a little -- The "ring test" was one of the standards for a good coin. There are many letters to the mint director where people complain that a coin does not ring and they suspect it is counterfeit. In various responses the mint states that is a good test for cast or base metal fakes, or ...

RE: "I'm sure anything like that would be called counterfeit if it happened. But man that kind of idea no matter how "out there "fuels peoples imagination." A full and open investigation would likely reveal what happened. After all, the Annual Assay Commission 1895-P circulation dollars were likely ...

You can infer relative differences, but not absolute. Now, if you could develop this test so that Vampires need only "ping" a coin to determine its variety -- then you'd really have something or should that be "someping?"

The "clerical error" argument along with "it looks like" are surrogates for the truth, which is: "We don't know, and we aren't going to look for an answer, so we'll invent something to sell coins."

RE: "Where are the business strikes for 1895 -P....????? did they ever exist ???????probably in Colorado in JR.s safe." The circulation coins were struck and fully accounted for in June 1895 (See my article o the subject.) including the profit on coinage and Annual Assay pieces. They would have gone...

There is a table, which eludes my fingers for the moment, that shows the coining cost at each mint. When I find it I'll post it.

Over time, the manufacturing cost of a silver dollar increased from about 1% of face to 2% and a little more.

New Orleans, 1887 “including salaries of officers was 1-cent and 6 mills per piece. Excluding salaries the cost per NO silver dollar was “1.55 cents for 1884 and 1.49 cents for 1885.” [RG104 E-235 Vol 050. March 3, 1888.] Cost of distributing silver dollars was: FY 1878 $77,999.93 FY 1879 $93,297.7...

Bullion was a variable since silver was bought on the open market. Here are some other bits that should help. They are in no particular order.

Quick answer: Yes. I'll get some of the numbers together are post them later this evening. Responses do not include capital equipment costs (equipment, buildings, etc.) but usually include everything else it took to strike a Morgan dollar. (Less sure about Peace dollars...) This will get you started...

Came across this letter today. Have not found the answer -- yet. April 23, 1878 Hon. H. R. Linderman Director of the Mint Washington, D.C. Sir: The enclosed letter from David Baldwin, Treasurer of the Savings Bank of Baltimore, raises the question whether we can receive Trade dollars over the counte...

The first 3 RG50 volumes are available on NNP at https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivede ... 79&take=50.

More will be scanned next Tuesday and Wednesday.

It's part of the design.