The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-06
DESTROYING MINT DIES.
Present Process Is Different From That
Formerly EmDloyed

Formerly Employed.
On the last working day Of the calendar
year an important aud interesting event
occurs Mt each Of the three coin factories
In Uncle Sans monopoly. In order to
render assurance doubly sure, says the San
/ Francisco Chronicle, the dies used in the
coming operations are defaced with the
utmost care and rendered utterly valueless
from the standpoint Of those gentry whose
proclivities lead them to establish. from
time 10 time, various private money making
enterprises which enter into competition
with the more finished production of the
Governments coming presses.
The regulations governing the mint and
assay service require that on the last day Of
each calendar year these dies shall have
their engraved surfaces defaced in the pres
ence of the coiner, the yer and the fore
man of the pressroom This operation IL
one Of the most important in the years
work. and consequently great stress Is
laid upon it by the officials Of the mint.
This voar a new departure Ia to be made
at the San Francisco Mint in the oblteration
OF these engravingp which ia regarded as
being more effective than the time honored
CUSTOM in which the dies were placed face
upward upon an anvil, where by means Of
a cold chise and sledge hammer the black
smith sunk a cross-mark into the face Of the
design Now the engravings will be ground
| to nothingness on an emery wheel.
Heretofore these defaced dies were dis
carded and we're given away IA souvenirs
| Of the Mint. Possibly several hundred Of
theqe still linger upon the desks of various
| business Offices in and about San Francisco.
! NV Is, tbnir old I'm tbaty n
purpose "a paperweights In size these
are from two to three inches in length and
Of a diameter approximating that Of the
| coins which were struck from them. the
periphery Of each cylinder being slightly
less than that Of the piece of money.
Recently the Secret Service agents we're
puzzled by the appearance in circulation
Of a counterfeit dollar, the surfaces Of
which adversely and reversely we're almost
without a flaw. The records Of the Mint
Bureau showed conclusively that all the
dies in use at the Mint in question had
been properly defaoed in the presence OF
the required witnesses; yet these queer
dollars continued to pour forth in a de-
basing food into the currency.
AZ length successful raid was made
upon countcrfciting plant, and the diverse
and reverse dies which were discovered
among the paraphernalia proved to be of
the regular United States Mint pattern.
An examination with a magnifying glass
revealed the interesting evidence that
cross marks which had been stamped upon
their surfaces had been deity filed and
smoothed over, so that the dies became
apparently as good as new. This discovery
led TO the new regulation that all dies should
have their engravings completely removed
and the hubs, or stems, Of the same be sent TO
the Director OF the Mint at the end Of each
year.
During this year. n dies became worn
out they we're promptly placed against
the surface Of an emery wheel and inside Of
ono minute this powerful abrasive had
removed the last vestige OF the design.
The remainder Of several hundred dies
which were used during the present year
will on the 3lst Of December, be polished
in Ike manner in the presence of the usual
witnesses.
One of the most important positions in
the mint and assay service is that Of the
engraver Of dies at Philadelphia. With
force Of expert engravers, who receive high
wages for their services, the work OF design
ing the dies is there conducted Impress
sions are first made in wax, and owing 10
the fact that each workman is an expert
the most perfect dies in the world are
turned out at this place. The tempering
OF the dies ana lNt TtitiIciuIR OF Nit stefl
require great skill, as the life Of the dies is
heightened by moro complete tempeHng
4 aue blue color is required
standard United States die should
make from 5000 to 10000 impresso
before rehardeninG becomes necessary, ono
at the Snn Francisco Mint having made the
record of 10000 impressions. BY way II
comparison il is Of interest to nctc that in
the ROYAL British Mint the average number
of coins stamped by each die is less than
80 coo. running az low as 1900
The finest quality of cast steel obtain
ahlc suseci in the manufacture Of these dies
and il is required that the molecular con-
struction Of these little pieces Of steel should
he uniform throughout; otherwise, If the
tcmpering WIS confined to the engraved
ends the tendency OF the steel TO crack
along the edges would be- aided by tho
lower portion forming base Of insufficient
resistance to the great pressure.
The foreman of the pressrOom IS required
TO make frequent examinations Of tho dies
and hy means 81 a magnfying glass he
promptly detects the formation Of crack
in its incpiency.
These dies used in coming Hre made Mt
considerable cost and every effort is made
10 prolong their life. with the result that
thoy outast those of other countries from
Ia 1 r,p