Adjustment Marks

[divewrecks]

From the article on the link (interesting) that follows:

"Beyond a doubt we find adjustment marks on some of the early Colonial cob coinage of Mexico. This manufacturing step was necessary in order to adjust the individual cob (both gold and silver) flans to the proper weight after they were cut from the crude cast bars with large shears before they were struck. If fact, we know this was an actual post in the Spanish Royal Mints because we find this position listed in some old documents of the employees of the different mints."

http://www.mexicancoinmagic.com/03 14 Volume/1403- Untold Stories.htm

Stan

 

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[cuzcosquirrel]

That article deals mostly with file marks on the face of Mexican milled dollars. I have seen marks like those on the front of Carson City gold and silver coins from the 1870's.

There were several steps gone through to make cobs at Mexico City. If the planchet did not tear apart, which they tended not to do because they were low heat strikes, the coin would be annealed, scalded to leave it in the white, and then filled along the edge to move it closer to the specificed weight.