Don't see many of these too often, and definitely not this large of a section. It is copper cent webbing. It is not copper-plated zinc because the plating for those is done after they are punched out. I know PCGS actually will slab webbing sections like this, just not sure if it is too big. A cool pick up nonetheless!
Joe, I've seen some pcs. in PCGS holders, and yet they've 'rejected' a few of mine that I submitted. Not consistent, but I don't know why. When I get them to confirm that they'll slab PPS's (Punched Planchet Strips), I'll have to submit my 4 pcs. of eight (8) Foot 1943 Denver Mint Steel Cent Strips (just kidding, they don't have an 8 foot holder, I assume!)
The webbing was sold as scrap. (The mint no longer has the foundry that would be needed for melting it down and recasting) Usually the firms that produce the strip repurchase the scrap but sometimes some of it gets purchased by others. It used to be they just folded up the webbing, now it gets chopped into bits for closer packing.
Did you pick them up locally to you, Joe? There used to be a place just outside of Buffalo (iirc) that produced these, although I forget the specifics.
No, this was a guy from Rhode Island that I was referred to. And I'm not familiar with any company from Buffalo that made coin metal, but i wouldn't doubt it at all.
My guess is Rice could probably give you the details as well, but Lou (Lincoln) used to have pieces (like yours) that came from them and would be able to tell you the whole story. It's been a long time so the details have faded. Tonawanda comes to mind, though.
Aside question...would it be worth it to have pieces slabbed, by say, ANACS on a special? Wondering because I have about 80 quarter pieces that I would like to sell. All of mine have enough to show a quarter could be placed in each.
I could be mistaken, but didn't I read on a CT forum/post some time ago, that it is illegal (against the law, not a sick bird ) to possess these?
No, they are not illegal at all. I've been buying, selling, and collecting Planchet strips for over 50 years. And, I've shown them, both in my office and at ANA Conventions, to Mint Police, Mint employees, Treasury Officials, etc etc. They are fine to own......
I've seen gold strips at the China Mint back in 1983, and at the West Point Mint in 2006 for 1 oz Gold Eagles. I don't believe there are any genuine U.S. Mint silver planchet strips for any denomination.
I would imagine the value of the silver would necessitate the melting and reclamation of the metal. The Mint is probably very strict on this.
The silver and gold strips get recycled and melted, as far as I know. As for your pickup, very cool! I've always been fascinated by these.
That is so weird that you help authenticate errors for them (PCGS), and then you of all people get your submissions rejected and without a reason.
Back when the mint made silver and gold for circulation, they had their own foundry for melting and recycling the webbing themselves. Once they started getting strip from outside sources it was just easier to sell the scrap back to them. Today the gold and silver planchets are produced by outside firms and they recycle the gold and silver strip because they have to return to the mint the same weight of precious metal planchets that the mint provided to them in bullion.
An older thread, but I recently acquired a Canadian piece of scissel strip for bronze 1c coins, it came from a collector who sourced it from the mint in the 1960s, and I thought I would share it in this thread. I also have a photograph of Canadian silver dollar scissel, which is archived at the Bank of Canada Currency Museum. They let me take a photo of it when I was doing some research there, prior to the pandemic. It used to be in a display, which is why the mounting pegs were soldered on.
