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Message:: [QUOTE="Fred Weinberg, post: 3473953, member: 86437"]I've said this before, but it needs to be said again: In 2004 I took a special, 2-person Floor Tour of the West Point Mint. (I was there in 1973 when it was the West Point Depository, examining  the CC dollars for Error coins, on behalf of the GSA) During my 2004 Tour, (with Dave Camire of NGC), we saw the entireMint's operation - including a small room with the Rockwell Test machinery.  Basically, it's a metal pointed tip that drops onto the surface of theplanchet, to help determine hardness of the planchet so it's correctand not too hard or brittle, which would shorten die life, among otherfactors. The indentation that is left from the Rockwell Test is small, and theWP Mint employee told us that they destroyed  those pieces tested,but that if one somehow got struck, the striking pressure duringminting  (65 to 85 tons of pressure, depending on denomination)would ENTIRELY eliminate the small indentation. That's why none have ever been found, and those that are picturedon some of the good Error websites are not RTP's, in my opinion. I know that "Lonesome" John Devine identified a coin as a RT coin,and although I knew John very very well, I believe he was mistakenon the coin pictured and listed on a few websites. So, yes, the Rockwell Test Machine exists, and I've seen it in person,but in my opinion, any coins touted as RT pieces simply are not, asthey would not exist (the indention) after such planchets are struckwith such tonnage of striking pressure.  My opinion.[/QUOTE]

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