If you got a job at the Mint, and you had the chance, would you be tempted to make a few errors every now and then? Not to steal them, but to put them into circulation so they could be discovered? Now I consider myself a very honest person, and would in no way break any laws, nor would I risk losing a kushy job like that. But I have to admit I would not be able to resist temptation...I would have to mix up a set of dies every now and then for a few Mules.... or run with a damaged die for a little longer.... I guess it's kind of an evil thought, but knowing me like I do, that's just too dang tempting. Even if I never found one myself the bragging rights after retirement would live forever. Or if you never tell anyone until they find it in a P.S. at the end of your Will...I'm tellin ya, you would live in infamy!!! And if they caught me, I'd do the honest thing like any other American, I'd tell them I need a year off for stress leave!!! Hey Im just being honest! But it has to make you think about the cool errors that are out there...are they really accidental?? Now how about you? Would you seek to spend your entire, dismal, coin press running, workin for "The Man" life making ordinary coins and nothing to show for it but a Gold "Plated" Watch when your done??? Or would you seek to leave your mark on Numismatic History???
Yes, American coins used to allegorical. Now, they're covered with Republicans and Democrats. Design some decent coins, don't make errors.
Security getting into the Mint is tight. Security getting out of the Mint is WAAAYYY tight. That is for guests and employees alike. If you are caught trying to smuggle ANY coin (or anything related to coins, e.g., bow ties) out of the Mint at a minimum the coin will be confiscated. If you are an employee and you are caught your employment at the Mint is immediately ended and you are subject to arrest. (That would be a federal charge that you face.) Several years ago employees at the Mint (I believe the SF Mint) found a way to sneak exotic error coins out of the Mint. (One of the gang working in the Mint would drop the coins down the exhaust pipe of a skid loader or some other similar piece of equipment. When the skid loader was sent outside the Mint for servicing another member of the gang would recover the coins from the oil pan, clean them up and sell them.) They were eventually caught and prosecuted.
I'm pretty sure everyone missed the concept of this thread. I agree with the "design concept" but that would be a totaly different area of the mint than I would be working. If I had my choice they would all be Indian Heads, Buffalo's and liberty. I'm not too hip on Dead Presidents, save those for the comm's. And I said no stealing them! Just making them and getting them into circulation.
Depends how good you look in stripes ....because no matter what if caught you be dealing with federal charges..... you may wish to take dance lessons too...as Bubba will be ready to cha cha with you once you get you new room at the federal pen. :devil:
I imagine there are too many inspectors at the mint, including inspection equipment to plan an error coin. We are talking money here. If the egg companies have inspection equipment that inspects every egg for defects, at lightning speed, I'm sure the mint has some fancy equipment as well. Maybe if the whole gang was in on it.
I get what you mean. Just like to give cool finds to people by putting them in general circulation. It's a cool idea, I guess, but I don't think I'd do it just because I wouldn't want to risk a job as nice as one at the Mint.
Finally we have an opinion on the subject! They're Union, you wouldn't get fired, like I said, just claim stress!
