Die life for 1896-1897 - San Francisco

[RogerB]

Here is a die use and life table for the San Francisco Mint, 1897. (Not sure if I posted this before or not -- .)

18980106 SF Die life for 1897.jpg (218.51 KiB) Viewed 1202 times

[PacificWR]

Good info. Thanks Roger.

[messydesk]

Does obverse die 37 really say 872,793 pieces?

[LateDateMorganGuy]

Based on what I have seen, one obverse die was married to 5 different reverse dies. Likely this could have been obverse die #37 with a mintage of 872,793 coins. I think JR calls this type of die a "widow maker" die. This obverse die was polished several times between die pairs. Kinda mind blowing to think about it.

[RogerB]

On the rare occasion when the Philadelphia Mint got really good steel, they made some excellent dies in both clarity of design and longevity.

Engraver’s Department,
June 19, 1895
Sir
In answer to your inquiry contained in letter of the 19th inst. in relation to supplies for
this department I beg to say the only bid I wish to call your attention to is that under class 1 for
Die steel.

This bid must not be considered as a bid for steel for this department, as all the steel used
for coinage and medal dies is specially prepared for the Mint by Alex. Foster & Co. of
Philadelphia who I know is not a bidder.
As this special steel has been used by the Mint for many years and has always given such
perfect satisfaction I respectfully recommend that we continue to use it for all coinage and medal
dies.
Very respectfully,
Chas. E. Barber
Engraver
[NARA RG104, Entry 1, Box 190]

Here is the 1896 die life table:

Pages from 18970103 SF Die life 1896.jpg (139.77 KiB) Viewed 1075 times