Coin Minting

[DSCoins]

All right (maybe shooting my foot off), but over the last week or so I have been researching the process of minting coins (not the dies, just coins). From what I could find is that ALL proof sets or any coins with S mint mark plus any ASE, use a vertical press (just incase someone does under stand, anvil side down and hammer die above). I also discovered that when the hammer die does it's squeeze to make the coin; The hammer die lifts ever so slightly and squeezes again. After which a mechanism ejects the coin. This mechanism is contoured on one end, and opened on front. The mint employee then stacks the coins onto a rack, close to how you would find them if they were rolled for circulation type coins. I will be coming back to this a little later with a question.

Now for coins minted for circulation. Apposed to what I thought because of the way it was explained. Coins minted for circulation are actually minted on a horizontal plan (tack your desk and run a pin back and forth and this is the horizontal plan). I'm not sure I can really explain this next step with out really doing a hatchet job on it, but I'm sure if I do Danial or Paul will correct it. Ok..The planchets are directed through a series of tunnel like devices to move them into the correct position. Now after getting the planchet into a position of basically on its rim, the hammer die move back and forth at a speed that you really can't say. With knowing this, it gives me a lot more knowledge on how some errors can accrue.

Now for the question I have from the first part of all this. Seeing as he hammer die is actually set to do this second small squeeze and if it was off from the first. Would you consider the machine doubling?

Thanks
DScoins

[Paul]

Keep in mind, that "Proof" coinage is struck multiple times. That's what gives it its 'proof-e-ness', so to speak.

Knowing this, when you encounter a "Ultra Deep Cameo", it has been struck multiple times. Now, if you look at this coin under a high definition, high magnification microscope, you will be able to see the slight 'shift' that occurs between strikes, that appear as steps on the edges of the devices. Yes, this would be called mechanical or strike doubling.

[mhonzell]

If the coin rotated significantly between strikes (unlikely) then you would have a double strike. Still not doubling.