Any Mint Employees Out Here......

[TJ1952]

........with an honest explanation on how something like this happens. It's some kind of pebble or rock.

[Maineman750]

Doesn't really take a mint employee to explain.....just a pebble that got into the wrapper in one of a thousand ways...mistakenly or on purpose...nobody would know unless they saw it happen. Makes a nice conversation piece though

[mustbebob]

Now to me...that is cool. Even when things like work areas are meant to be clean, things can always happen. It would be very difficult to know exactly how it happened, but it is a very interesting specimen.

[TJ1952]

Thanks guys.

That's why I was asking for a mint employee in the production area. He or she would probably know exactly how or why it happened. I was trying to get a visual on what the production area looks like. Is it like an industrial production/construction site, with crap, dirt, machinery, debris, dust, everywhere? My subject line should have read: Any mint employee "quality control specialist" out here...

I guess bottom-line here is this type of stuff is apparently common. I have a feeling the mint quality control person would probably say: This type of stuff is low priority!

[TJ1952]

Or like Oops, a nail fell into the dime die.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/690e579c041349b39c1734a676c60364/error-coin-dime-struck-nail-headed-auction

[addictedtocoins]

I've often wondered what could be hiding in some of those original government packages . Especially the older ones !

[jcuve]

Or like Oops, a nail fell into the dime die.


http://bigstory.ap.org/article/690e5...headed-auction

That's what we call an assisted Mint error...

[TJ1952]

It's like the Mint's production area is a construction site, rocks and nail! Someone on another website said I should have that rock checks for rock cocaine. He believes with some of the stuff coming out of the mint today, half the employees must be on drugs!

[willbrooks]

As for the OP's post. I agree with Bob that this is interesting! We will never know how it got there, but that would be a strange thing to do on purpose. I really like it!

Side note about the nail: Have you all noticed that there are suddenly a BUNCH of struck-on-nails for sale? I mean a bunch. And I am disgusted. These so-called verification companies refuse to grade a legitimate coin properly because of their politics, but they are getting HUMILIATED by the counterfeits, fakes, and altered. It's all business.

[mustbebob]

I was trying to get a visual on what the production area looks like. Is it like an industrial production/construction site, with crap, dirt, machinery, debris, dust, everywhere?

I took a couple of tours of the Philadelphia Mint in the late 90's. To be honest, the work area is not littered with debris and stuff all over the place. It is well maintained and pretty clean. There are a lot of machines in there so there is a lot of lubricants and tools around. However, they are supposed to be well accounted for. There is a very good Quality Control program at the mint, but when you are dealing with billions of coins being struck, lots of employees in the area, and mechanical breakdown and repair, it is easy to see how a few less than desirable things can happen. The majority of things like this ARE caught and never make it out of the mint. This one is the exception rather than the rule and does not indicate a bad QC program. Stuff happens...right?

[TJ1952]

I took a couple of tours of the Philadelphia Mint in the late 90's. To be honest, the work area is not littered with debris and stuff all over the place. It is well maintained and pretty clean. There are a lot of machines in there so there is a lot of lubricants and tools around. However, they are supposed to be well accounted for. There is a very good Quality Control program at the mint, but when you are dealing with billions of coins being struck, lots of employees in the area, and mechanical breakdown and repair, it is easy to see how a few less than desirable things can happen. The majority of things like this ARE caught and never make it out of the mint. This one is the exception rather than the rule and does not indicate a bad QC program. Stuff happens...right?

Good point. Thanks you for that feedback. That gives me a much better appreciation for what is taking place. I guess seeing that "dime struck in a nail" and graded by PCGS made me thing that things are out of control at the US Mint, as it is with the rest of the gov't across the board. Thanks!

[jfines69]

Maybe it is a piece of tooth from the quality control worker - had to test and make sure it was a legitimate coin

[silver1985]

........with an honest explanation on how something like this happens. It's some king of pebble or rock.

"Are there any Mint Employees out there?"
Are you kidden me! ??
They're probably all watching this website like a hawk to see if they are going to get a raise this year.

[TJ1952]

[QUOTE=silver1985;292294]"Are there any Mint Employees out there?"
Are you kidden me! ??
They're probably all watching this website like a hawk to see if they are going to get a raise this year.

I just noticed my typo, king??? sorry!

Yes, I often thought of that myself. Someone (or groups of employees) at the Mint are assigned to monitor these many different coin forums and report any significant finding at every Monday mornings staff meeting! They will all get pay raises no matter what!

[jfines69]

I like the cents and the giggler