VAMWorld 2.0

This letter and memorandum show one of the ways the Mint Bureau and Treasury used to push standard silver dollars into circulation --- just like today "Free Shipping!" on all your orders! As you can see from the bottom of the memo, "free shipping" came out of the mint's profit on making the coins, s...

Curiously, the Annual Assay Commission records do not mention this error even though coins from these deliveries were part of the New Orleans specimens submitted. It is possible the Commission merely did not open any of the relevant sample envelopes, or that they saw the error but did not report it ...

To a Mintmaster, clashed dies (or "blanked dies" as the US Mint called them) are serious lapses in mechanical reliability and coin quality. Clashes weaken dies, can initiate cracking, and produce inferior coins - all of which make coining money more expensive and increase risk of counterfeiting.

A few months later, the New Orleans Coiner was replaced.

Almost 3 years ago I posted the following letter which demonstrated that one of the most popular Morgan dollar die varieties was first identified in 1891 during the US Mint's normal "special assay" tests. 18910922 NO Letter E clash near eagle tail feathers-1.jpg Recently, I located a second letter a...

RE: "I resubmitted (raw) a 26-P v2 they graded 63 last time around. Went 65 this time. Will post pics later. Almost as good as the 21-P goldfish in 58 that went 63 the second time around." and RE: "On top of that, an NGC MS63 crack-out (I just wanted it in a PCGS holder) came back AU58!" Both are pa...

Thanks! That makes things a lot clearer.

Just an observation. If the clash is common then it should absolutely be listed in the variety catalog --- because that is where you want new collectors to go to find answers. Leaving it out only frustrates and confuses new collectors of varieties.

The first New Orleans Mint Morgan dollars were delivered Feb 27 (10,000) and Feb 28 (12,000) 1879.

The OP's bottom photo more closely resembles a small die crack - note the irregular edges and width. Just a thought.

The following letter helps explain why no New Orleans Mint silver dollars were made in 1878. (The hydraulic press referred to was used to press water from refinery cake silver and mercury from amalgam.) Messrs. Robert Wetherill & Co. Chester, Penna. October 5, 1878 Gentlemen, Owing to the prevalence...

This letter supports some of the problems relating to Charles Barber and Morgan in preparing dies for designs by non-Mint artists. This refers to the Francis Joseph medal designed by Bernard Saint-Gaudens and requested by the Library Committee of Congress. February 22, 1889 Mr. R. W. Gilder New York...

William and son Charles, and George Morgan were Brits. George was the better, and all were more accomplished at die work than any American artists. Creatively, they were all 2nd tier and would have had a very difficult time finding work in Europe. The US Mint further "cloistered" them and none grew ...

You'll find some of your answers in my book "Girl on the Silver Dollar." As for William Barber - he and Morgan prepared competing designs for the standard silver dollar. Morgan's was selected largely because the relief was lower. President Hayes examined pattern pieces of both designs in December 18...

But....you ignore the effect of cold weather on the Florida iguana BBQ market.

Entry 235 (Letters sent) volumes 51-54 have been uploaded to NNP. These take the series up to about the end of 1889.
Entry 229 (Letters received) for all of 1900 are complete and on NNP.

Thanks for the offer! I like to maximize useful time at the archives, so I have a high protein breakfast before leaving home, and then work straight through at NARA with only quick 'necessity' breaks (usually while the computer is exporting files). The day is 9am to 4pm, but accomplishment varies wi...

The materials listed above have been posted to NNP. Friday (tomorrow) I plan to scan E-235 (Letters sent) vols 51-54. When these are complete volumes 1 through 60 will be available on NNP for research. These go along with Entry 229 (Letters received) and Entry 6 (internal letters between Coiner and ...

Will they also grade dead earthworms on my driveway?

A confused mixture of opinions, assumptions and unsupported measurements. This tango goes backward so many steps I've lost count.

Question: Is the "Hi-8us" a new VAM variety...?


Enjoy the break! We all need space at times.