Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="Bonedigger, post: 347241, member: 4367"]I'd imagine they (the dies) were accidently smacked together at some point during their short life.  One has to also understand that a screw-press will tend to apply uneven pressure to the (rather large, half-dollar) planchets and die surfaces.  That along with improper die hardening could result in some clash marks on the coins.  Remember, it only took once. I would also be willing to bet that the dies were "parked" at night with the press in a closed position which alleviates undue stress on the whole screw mechanism but also puts those dies together. These are just my thoughts, but one thing is for certain, they were using screw-presses (in some capacities) until 1836.  Here is an excellent link with pictures.<a href="http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:1GpH3ce5bfEJ:www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/the-first-US-mint.html+%22screw+press%22+%22us+mint%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:1GpH3ce5bfEJ:www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/the-first-US-mint.html+%22screw+press%22+%22us+mint%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us" rel="nofollow">http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:1GpH3ce5bfEJ:www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/the-first-US-mint.html+"screw+press"+"us+mint"&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us</a> Take CareBen[/QUOTE]