By Alan Herbert, Coins Magazine February 08, 2010

Why is there a branch mint at West Point?

Originally it was the West Point Bullion Depository, but it became a mint in 1974, based on a 1973 law authorizing “any” facility for striking coins. The facility has a long history, dating back to its construction in 1938. The initial shipment of silver to West Point in 1938 was more than 1 million bars, weighing 1.2 billion troy ounces.



Canada banned the export of silver coins as early as 1973. What was the reason?

The ban was put in effect because of wholesale export of silver as the price went above $2 an ounce. In the two months before the law went into effect, in April, more than $2 million worth was exported by bullion brokers and coin dealers.



My brother claims that at least some of the gold that is buried at Ft. Knox was struck into coins there. Is this true?

Your brother loses this argument. Ft. Knox has been our principal gold bullion depository since it was built in 1936, but there never have been any coins struck there. He may be confusing it with the West Point Bullion Depository, which also serves as a mint, striking coins including gold. Gold has been withdrawn from Ft. Knox and used for gold coins, but they were struck somewhere else.



What’s the difference between a milled and a reeded edge?

The European meaning for milled edge includes reeded, plain, grained, ornamented and lettered. However, U.S. usage is for a coin struck on a planchet with upset rims.



Tell me what “mill money” is?

Mill money is one of three archaic terms applied to coins. Mill and screw, and milled were also applied to coins struck with milled edges in a screw press.



Is there a Civil War token that has some Morse Code spelled out?

There is a listing for an undated token for S.W. Chubbuck, of Utica, N.Y., a manufacturer of telegraph equipment in the 1847-1863 period. The piece has the complete Morse Code alphabet with the dot and dash symbols on the reverse.



Where can I find some information on an 1864 Civil War token with an Indian head on the obverse, “NOT ONE CENT” on the reverse, and a “C” apparently as a mintmark?

These pieces are replicas. They were struck in 1976 from dies that were first used in 1974 to strike replicas by the Columbus Mint. The 1974 replicas were correctly stamped with the word “COPY” in incuse letters on the obverse. However, the 1976 strikes, made by someone else, were in violation of the Hobby Protection Act because they were not stamped as copies.



Isn’t there a Civil War token that suggests problems similar to the recurrent Pentagon procurement contract scandals?

There is a token that reads “MILLIONS FOR THE CONTRACTORS­—NOT ONE CENT FOR THE WIDOWS.”



In an attic I found a “coin” dated 1873 with “JAMES AND FRENCH HAVE IT/CLARKSBURG, OH.” It has an Indian head and 13 stars on the obverse. What is it?

Token expert Russ Rulau provided the answer, as this is a tricky piece. First, it is a merchant’s store card, and not a coin. He identified it as a Civil War piece that accidentally received the wrong date. It is listed with the Civil War tokens by Fuld, as 170B-1a.



What can you tell me about a coin dated 1863, with the words “Army & Navy.”

These are privately issued tokens, classed as Patriotic tokens, used as small change during the Civil War. There are several varieties of this design.



Address questions to: Coin Clinic, Coins Magazine, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990. Because of space limitations, we are unable to publish all questions. Include a loose first-class stamp for reply. Write first for specific mailing instructions before submitting numismatic material. We cannot accept unsolicited items. E-mail inquiries should be sent to Answerman2@aol.com.



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• 2010 U.S. Coin Digest, The Complete Guide to Current Market Values, 8th ed.

• State Quarters Deluxe Folder By Warmans

• Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money, 1928 to Date

• Strike It Rich with Pocket Change, 2nd Edition