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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;giorgio11, post: 969329, member: 17094&quot;]Those S-mint dies with the repunched mintmark were actually created at the Philadelphia Mint, which maintained a die shop monopoly until 1996, when the Denver Mint opened its own die shop. So all mintmarked dies before 1996 were created in Philadelphia. There are a few exceptions to this where mintmarks at the branch mints were for one reason or another added by hand, but the rule holds true. </p><p><br /></p><p>Regarding the VDB vs. Brenner vs. B controversy, it apparently came down to the jealous Mint Engraver, Charles Barber, making the final decision. Per Roger Burdette <i>(Renaissance of American Coinage, </i>volume II, p. 42) Brenner and Barber met on March 4, 1909, at which time Brenner agreed that his &quot;name on the Obverse looks intrusive&quot; and he agrees to &quot;put it in small letters on the reverse near the rim.&quot; Burdette writes that &quot;This is the first time Brenner suggests placing his name on the reverse of the coin although [Mint Director Frank A.] Leach had already decided to use initials. There is no record of further objection to this and it appears Barber removed the name and added the three raised initials to the reverse, cutting them by hand into the master die. Not only are the initials slightly askew [note that Barber was at that time 68 years old], byt they are off-center, and unevenly spaced. All three of Brenner&#039;s initials were used so his work was clearly differentiated from Barber&#039;s lone initial on the silver coins.&quot;[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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