Issue 13 - Mint Error News Magazine

It is clear that the person minting the coinplaced the older quarter in the press so as to have it inalignment with the pattern die. (This was also true ofthe Fairfield/Bass dollar discussed above.) However theplacement of the quarter was off by a few degrees andthe alignment is therefore slightly rotated. As a result aghostly image of the 1840-O coin can be seen beneaththe 1865 overstrike. The digit 1 of the 1840 appearswell in front of the 1 of the 1865 date. The digit 8 of theoriginal coin date is also in front of and partially underthe overstrike 1. The 5 is under the 8 and the 0 beneaththe 6 of the overstrike. Other elements of the 1840-Oquarter design are also visible including the stars andcentral figure of Liberty, all rotated to the same degree.The reverse shows the same effect with the mintmark“O” and features of the eagle clearly visible. Of coursethe “In God We Trust” motto does not appear in theunderlying image, as it was a “no motto” coin.While the coin certainly does not prove the1865 transitionals were definitely struck in 1865, itimportantly does not disprove it either. Obviously if itwere over an 1866 or later dated coin, the case for a laterstriking would be proven. Other sources of evidence,including a letter dated December 15, 1865 from MintDirector James Pollock to Secretary of the Treasury,Hugh McCulloch, point to the probability that thesecoins were made in 1865. In his letter Pollock referencesenclosure of pattern coins: “…I now forward toyou specimens in copper, of the Double Eagle, Eagle,and Half Eagle (gold coins) and the Dollar, Half dollar,and Quarter Dollar (silver coins) with the motto “InGod We Trust” on the reverse of each coin, for your approvalor otherwise as required by law.” Pollock doesnot specifically state that the coins are dated 1865 (theycould in theory be dated 1866 if the 1866 obverse dieshad been prepared by mid December of 1865). But it isclear they were definitely made in 1865. It is reasonableto believe they were also so dated.There is also the possibility that some werestruck in 1865 and others later. The most recent rarityestimates for the coin in silver (Judd 425) are about adozen known. Estimates in copper (Judd 426) are alsofor about a dozen pieces. Of the 7 or 8 pieces in bothsilver and copper that the author has been able to see,all appear to be from the same dies. They also show nosigns of die rust or significant die polishing. So if thereare “earlier” and “later” strikings they may be indistinguishablefrom one another.An obvious mystery is why someone would usean old quarter as a planchet for this striking. It mightbe presumed that a mint employee “unofficially” usedhis own quarter and kept the pattern as a souvenir orPage 27minterrornews.com