Quarter eagle die also struck pattern cent

Are there some 1853 quarter eagles that were struck with cent dies?

The explanation may be a bit confusing, but the die used for the obverse of the quarter eagles of that year was used to strike pattern cents in combination with a large cent reverse which has an olive branch and the denomination but without the “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The obverse die used for the quarter eagles thus was not a cent die, but was used to strike pattern cents.

When did Chet Krause’s “Chet Chat” column stop as a regular feature in Numismatic News?

The last regular column appeared in the fall of 1971. In October 1973 Chet Chat resumed on an irregular basis, ending a few months later.

Why are there different size (and weight) coins struck by Bechtler?

Christopher Bechtler minted gold from a wide area, which varied in fineness and the metals it was alloyed with, so a third variant was color. The size and weight of the pieces was adjusted to account for the differing fineness of the gold.

How many of the 1855 Kellogg & Co. $50 “slugs” are known to exist?

At last count five. Two in museums, three in private hands. One sold in the March 1980 Garrett Sale for $300,000.

Didn’t the ANA at one time consider holding an eastern and a western convention each year?

Col. Robert Kriz introduced a resolution to that effect in 1973, which was defeated, but the idea later evolved into the present system of a summer and an early spring convention.

What is the purpose of the Mexican 10 peso coin of 1960 which has four dates on it?

The coin, which has the busts of Hidalgo and Madero, bears the dates 1810, 1910 and 1960, the latter repeated on both the obverse and reverse. As might be expected, this is a commemorative, marking the 150th anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spain.

I’ve seen several references to a “Castaing Machine.” What was it and what was it for?

The Castaing Machine was one of the earliest machines made to upset the edge and letter the edges of the planchets in early 1800s coinage.

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