Looks like something that would interest me too Idhair. I have "different" interests than a lot of collectors do. Thanks for posting it. Bruce
They could probably still charge me for having it but after 45 years, I don't feel they even care. It's only worth a few bucks and they can have it if they wish.
I'll guess it was returned to Chase and found it's way into someones hands that later found the article. It's also possible the whole thing is just a bunch of bull. Back in 1943 the scrap was just sold as junk. Made a great building material.
The article leaves me with some questions. I was unaware of the mint having strip prepared by outside firms in 1967. I thought they were making their own strip. If they were only do ing their own then the strip would have had to come from the mint because they probably would be recycling the metal in house. Of course with the ongoing coin shortage they were probably getting strip from outside sources as well. The next question would be whether or not the outside firm was providing strip or finished planchets as they do today. If they were supplying strip then the webbing may have come from the Mint, or it could be webbing sent back by the mint to the manufacturer. If they bought strip then the webbing sent back was probably sold back to the manufacturer and did not belong to the mint. (Once again this is standard procedure todaye) Likewise if they were supplied with planchets then again the webbing probably never belonged to the Mint. Neither would the undelivered planchets. Since the article states the material was taken from the manufacturer, the chances are good that they did not belong to the Treasury Dept but to Chase Brass.
Good post and I agree with your thoughts and logic. The only way I could see this possibly being owned by the mint, (and not come directly from the mint), is if the mint sent the webbing back to the strip supplier and paid for conversion, (ie sent back 10 tons of webbing to strip supplier, paid a few cents to be recast and rolled, and sent back to the mint). Either way its pretty cool. Good eye, I like unusual things as well.
