Trail Dies feedback/questions thread

[willbrooks]

I wanted to start a specific thread for feedback, discussion, and questions regarding my trail dies article. I would appreciate any feedback from those who have read it, and I also welcome any discussion or questions. I also have more of Ray's photos that I could post with his permission, which were cut from the article due to space constraints.

[ray_parkhurst]

I wanted to start a specific thread for feedback, discussion, and questions regarding my trail dies article. I would appreciate any feedback from those who have read it, and I also welcome any discussion or questions. I also have more of Ray's photos that I could post with his permission, which were cut from the article due to space constraints.

Will...feel free to post any of the photos, including the animations which could not be print published...Ray

[enamel7]

I my friend think you hit the nail on the head! Wonderful article and proud of you! You represent us well.

[VAB2013]

Will, many of us are not subscribers to Coin World magazine so we are not able to read your Trail Die article. Can you give us a few tid bits? Or even better, we want to know ALL about it with photos and the whole nine yards!!!

[eaxtellcoin]

Viv, Click on the link - I had no problem opening up the whole weekly magazine even with my slowww internet connection.
Die deterioration and the mint cleaning up problems with the die makes good sense. Nicely written and got to the point quickly. Well done.

[jfines69]

We need to get as much feed back as is possible... It is always good to hear others thoughts wether we agree or not!!!

[willbrooks]

Die deterioration and the mint cleaning up problems with the die makes good sense.

The polishing I am talking about in the article in relation to trails generally takes place as the die is prepared for service, before it strikes any coins. However, die deterioration could certainly exacerbate the effect.

[dogparkdays]

Traveling this week and while it might be pipe dreaming I'm hopeful to find a cooy of Coin World either at the airport or the coin shop in the little Iowa town I'll be visiting.

[mikediamond]

I found the article rather persuasive. I do have some questions, though. On any particular coin, trails usually point in one direction (sometimes two). One would think that a buffing wheel would change position during use. Do you see the consistent directionality as indicating that the buffing wheel is mounted in a stable holder and then lowered onto the die face by operating a wheel or joystick?

[jfines69]

I found the article rather persuasive. I do have some questions, though. On any particular coin, trails usually point in one direction (sometimes two). One would think that a buffing wheel would change position during use. Do you see the consistent directionality as indicating that the buffing wheel is mounted in a stable holder and then lowered onto the die face by operating a wheel or joystick?

Would it be possible to get this information from the mint??? Would be interesting to know if it was or is still performed by hand or machine!!!

[willbrooks]

I found the article rather persuasive. I do have some questions, though. On any particular coin, trails usually point in one direction (sometimes two). One would think that a buffing wheel would change position during use. Do you see the consistent directionality as indicating that the buffing wheel is mounted in a stable holder and then lowered onto the die face by operating a wheel or joystick?

Thanks for the input, Mike. If you do a google image search for "tom larizzio phildelphia mint," the first picture that comes up shows him polishing a die with a table mounted rotary device. Looks like he holds it by hand, but the wheel is large enough that it looks like it would cover a lot of the die at once. I think that would explain it.
edit: I include the link here: https://www.google.com/search?q=tom+...vURcBZLZrFufM:

[ray_parkhurst]

Here's a peek at the article:

http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2017/07.html

[jfines69]

Thanks for the input, Mike. If you do a google image search for "tom larizzio phildelphia mint," the first picture that comes up shows him polishing a die with a table mounted rotary device. Looks like he holds it by hand, but the wheel is large enough that it looks like it would cover a lot of the die at once. I think that would explain it.
edit: I include the link here: https://www.google.com/search?q=tom+...vURcBZLZrFufM:

Thanks for the follow up and link Will... When I clicked on the image of Tom Larizzio it took me to CoinNews.net article http://www.coinnews.net/2013/10/07/p...-philadelphia/ The article is dated October 7, 2013... I zoomed in on the image and he is using a wire wheel... Now we know what makes all those abrasions

[willbrooks]

As a follow-up, and to help anyone that remains unconvinced, I am actually in the process of commissioning a trail die to be intentionally made. It may take a little while, but I will update that project as it goes along.

[jallengomez]

When we think of rotary tools, we often think of buffing pad type implements that would polish the die in a circular motion, but as the photo Will points to illustrates, there are rotary polishing tools used which cross the die face in a single direction. Here's a link to the larger image.

http://www.coinnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Philadelphia-Mint-Buffer-Polisher-Tom-Larizzio-Circulated-Die-Finish.jpg