Just wondering - what's the specific protocol for discarding coin dies?

They sell them to China. No. Then they drop them in the ocean. No. Then they bury them in the desert. No. Just thought I'd get those three out of the way for us. But I'll bet they either just throw them in the smelting pot, or damage them beyond recognition, then discard them in the ordinary landfills.

 

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Now they grind off the top and sell them to the public .
rzage

 

They have been selling some of them at a premium with the coins they were made with. If you search ebay you can find some. This is a fairly recent thing tho. I think since the state quarters came out. I found a 1996 olympic commem one at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1996-PROOF-HIGH-JUMP-OLYMPIC-RETIRED-COIN-DIE_W0QQitemZ190236366050QQihZ009QQcategoryZ786QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Not all have been quartered like that example. I have seen a 2004 nickel one that was worn smooth and you had to take it at the mints word it was a die. (saw it on the mint website)

http://cgi.ebay.com/2004-Peace-Nickel-coin-die-set-Denver_W0QQitemZ130238968176QQihZ003QQcategoryZ520QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also the certificate says how many coins it made in its run and what dates it was used. Kinda cool if you ask me but a little too expensive for my blood. (Edit: OK $35.00 isnt bad after all)

Check the mint website under special collectoins 50 state quarter coin and die sets to see what they have.(edit: link was giving errors goto www.usmint.gov )

 

for 35 I'm going to want an non defaced die

 

I ended up buying a North Dakota die just because...well..that's where I live!

 

Well fer crissakes, don't they have any shame? These are destroyed dies! But in all honesty, you guys are embarrassing me at my naivety...

 

Eddie I'm sure you know more than me in certain areas , and visa versa .
rzage:smile:hatch::hammer:

 

Yeah, I fell for it too, added the ground off Minnesota die to my cabinet. Actually, it is a nice visual aid when trying to explain to people how coins are minted.

 

You can get the coin and die at the US Mint together

 

Didn't they make some restrikes off a old die that they had previously put a big X through the top of the die , can't remember the year or denomination .
rzage

 

That may be the 1875-CC 20 Cent. Carson City Mint employees apparently tossed old dies out the back window. Some old rusted dies were found there several years ago. Bob (?) runs the Carson City Mint Museum and has made a limited number of impressions from these dies in lead. He has donated a pair to the YN Auction the last several years. I think he is getting close to retiring those dies and putting them in the museum.