Dies production and statistics
By Patrick Glassford | Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Only Royal Canadian Mint reports from 1935 to 1962, with the exception of 1936, contain information regarding the life and usage of dies. In 1935, the average number of coins struck per die was 69,224 while in 1962 it rose to 186,230. A significant increase of 300% in 27 years.
1935
- Total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for striking was 458
- The average of 1-cent coins produced per die pair was 295,153
- The average of $ 1 coins produced per die pair was 7,500
- For all denominations, the average number of coins produced per die pair was 69,244
1936
Not data available.
1937
Total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for coining was 856.
1938
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 18,365,608 | 108 | 96 | 92 | 68 | 229,570 |
5 cents | 3,898,974 | 54 | 48 | 47 | 34 | 96,271 |
10 cents | 4,197,323 | 132 | 156 | 146 | 142 | 29,148 |
25 cents | 3,149,245 | 114 | 239 | 84 | 222 | 20,583 |
50 cents | 192 018 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 42 671 |
1 dollar | 90,304 | 48 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 45,152 |
Total | 29,893,472 | 456 | 563 | 376 | 472 | Average: 77,232 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 848. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for minting was 1,134 and 111 for the Dominican Republic coins.
1939
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 21,600,319 | 204 | 175 | 213 | 147 | 120,002 |
5 cents | 5,661,123 | 72 | 75 | 49 | 36 | 133,202 |
10 cents | 5,501,748 | 108 | 123 | 108 | 110 | 50,474 |
25 cents | 3,532,494 | 36 | 147 | 58 | 138 | 36,046 |
50 cents | 287,976 | 27 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 25,041 |
1 dollar | 1 363 816 | 172 | 148 | 188 | 104 | 9 341 |
Total | 37,947,477 | 619 | 685 | 628 | 446 | Average: 64,646 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,174. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 1,304.
1940
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 85,740,532 | 372 | 363 | 363 | 347 | 247,156 |
5 cents | 13,920,197 | 108 | 117 | 123 | 107 | 121,045 |
10 cents | 16 526 470 | 358 | 458 | 345 | 442 | 41 998 |
25 cents | 9,583,650 | 234 | 404 | 252 | 400 | 29,398 |
50 cents | 1,996,566 | 78 | 96 | 98 | 92 | 21,016 |
Total | 127,767,415 | 1,150 | 1,438 | 1,181 | 1,388 | Average: 99,476 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 2,569. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 2,588.
1941
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 56,336,011 | 462 | 385 | 483 | 374 | 131,473 |
5 cents | 8,681,785 | 84 | 85 | 93 | 82 | 99,220 |
10 cents | 8,716,386 | 160 | 383 | 167 | 379 | 31,928 |
25 cents | 6,654,672 | 186 | 239 | 184 | 238 | 31,539 |
50 cents | 1,717,874 | 60 | 39 | 59 | 33 | 37,280 |
Total | 82,103,728 | 952 | 1,131 | 986 | 1,106 | Average: 78,493 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 2,092. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for minting was 2,191 including the Newfoundland ones.
1942
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 76,113,708 | 385 | 277 | 229,950 |
5 cents | 10,243,778 | 93 | 90 | 111,954 |
10 cents | 10,214,011 | 258 | 245 | 40,612 |
25 cents | 6,935,871 | 236 | 240 | 29,142 |
50 cents | 1,974,165 | 90 | 47 | 28,820 |
Total | 105,481,533 | 1,062 | 899 | Average: 105,579 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,961. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 2,058.
Owing to the difficulty of purchasing consistently high-grade die steel, the saving of dies in the Press Room was given the greatest consideration. An all-out effort was made to have coin blanks annealed sufficiently soft, bent blanks picked out in roll-sorting to prevent clashes, and each operator trained to give every care to the conservation of coinage dies. About 50 per cent of the one-cent and five-cent dies were chromium-plated. The results proved that the wearing qualities of these dies would he greatly increased by chromium-plating if cracking in the steel did not occur too soon after being set up in the press. As many as 700,000 pieces were struck from a chromium-plated die.
- Royal Canadien Mint report, 1942.
1943
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 89,111,969 | 421 | 331 | 237,000 |
5 cents | 24,760,256 | 352 | 323 | 73,364 |
10 cents | 21,143,229 | 709 | 535 | 33,992 |
25 cents | 13,559,575 | 456 | 491 | 28,426 |
50 cents | 3,109,583 | 168 | 118 | 21,745 |
Total | 151,684,612 | 2,106 | 1,798 | Average: 77,707 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 3,904. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for forging was 3,912.
Every effort and precaution was used to overcome breakages and increase the life of coinage dies, but the rapid pace necessary to strike 3,000,000 coins per week. coupled with inexperienced operators on the coining, presses, caused a considerable reduction in the average number of pieces struck by each pair of dies. All denominations except the one-cent show an increase in the number of dies used.
The manufacture of coinage dies, especially in war time, presents one of the most elusive problems involved in minting. The dies transform a disc of metal into a coin of the realm and therefore require much care and intelligence in their preparation. Owing to the difficult of procuring consistently high grade die steel erratic results in the length of die life tax the ingenuity of the Die Department to produce dies which will stand the strain of 100 tons pressure striking coins at 100 pieces per minute for the maximum period of time. All improved understanding of the requirements necessary to die steel has led to the only logical conclusion that Control, rigid and absolute, is most essential to increased die life. Control, that is, the time of heating, the rate of heating, the temperature, distortion, atmosphere within the furnace to prevent oxidation, must be under the complete control of the operator.
Authority was granted for the Mint to purchase the most modern Die Hardening and Tempering equipment available, which gives the Control desired. It is expected that lengthened die life will result in a worth while saving in the cost of steel used for our dies, and an increase in coin production, which is most important.
- Royal Canadien Mint report, 1943.
1944
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 44,131,216 | 215 | 174 | 226,896 |
5 cents | 11,532,784 | 348 | 364 | 32,395 |
10 cents | 9,383,582 | 436 | 384 | 22,887 |
25 cents | 7,216,237 | 276 | 282 | 25,865 |
50 cents | 2,460,205 | 127 | 101 | 21,581 |
Total | 74,724,024 | 1,402 | 1,305 | Average: 58,208 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 2,707. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for forging was 2,857.
1945
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 77,268,591 | 129 | 95 | 689,989 |
5 cents | 18,893,216 | 271 | 306 | 65,488 |
10 cents | 10,979,570 | 268 | 204 | 46,524 |
25 cents | 5,296,495 | 104 | 132 | 44,886 |
50 cents | 1,959,528 | 51 | 42 | 42,140 |
1 dollar | 38,391 | 8 | 12 | 3,839 |
Total | 114,435,791 | 831 | 791 | Average: 141,105 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,622. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for forging was 1,543.
Every effort has been made during the last few years to increase the number of coins struck by each die or pair of dies. After much study and research more satisfactory results in lengthened die life are at last being achieved. Careful selection of the most suitable die steel for Mint work; efficient heat-treatment of the steel die in progress and proper hardening and tempering of the finished die; chromium plating the design of all dies; correct annealing of the silver and copper blanks for coinage; and constant training of the press operators, appears responsible for the increase of over 150% in the number of pieces struck per pair. One pair of one cent dies struck over 5,000,000 coins before being discarded through the wearing away of the design.
There is no doubt that the working dies, prepared under our present heat-treating equipment and using the above-mentioned precautions, would strike a greater number of silver coins if the annealing methods to soften the blanks before striking into coins could he modernized. At present the blanks are placed in iron pots heated to a cherry red, around 1200 F., in an electric oven, and then plunged into cold water. The energy that is unnecessarily consumed to heat the pots or containers costs as much as the electric power required to heat the blanks within. It is also most difficult to heat the pieces uniformly, as the blanks in the centre cannot absorb the heat as quickly as those nearest the heating element. Although time is allowed for compact saturation or absorption of the heat by the whole body. the method cannot be called efficient, and there are definitely many hard pieces which have not received sufficient annealing, causing excessive breakages of dies in the process of striking.
By the radio frequency generator method of induction heating each work piece is subject to the influence of a varying electro-magnetic field which almost instantaneously uniformly heats each individual blank to-the desired temperature. When plunged into cold water. every piece is annealed at the softness required to bring up a satisfactory design, and being uniformly soft the die life is greatly increased.
The cost of installation may he prohibitive at present, but the reduction in electric power coats for operation of the furnace, great savings in amount of steel used and labour saved in the preparation of dies for minting would eventually more than pay for apparatus of such efficiency.
- Royal Canadien Mint report, 1945.
1946
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 56,662,071 | 200 | 168 | 307,946 |
5 cents | 6,952,684 | 75 | 84 | 86,909 |
10 cents | 6,300,066 | 193 | 169 | 34,807 |
25 cents | 2,210,810 | 46 | 78 | 35,658 |
50 cents | 950,235 | 24 | 30 | 35,194 |
1 dollar | 93,055 | 48 | 35 | 2,215 |
Total | 73,168,921 | 586 | 564 | Average: 127,250 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,150. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 1,096.
1947
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 31,093,901 | 175 | 134 | 201,255 |
5 cents | 7,603,724 | 99 | 93 | 79,205 |
10 cents | 4,431,926 | 136 | 111 | 35,886 |
25 cents | 1,524,554 | 32 | 29 | 49,985 |
50 cents | 424,885 | 8 | 5 | 65,367 |
1 dollar | 65,695 | 11 | 12 | 4,685 |
Total | 45,144,585 | 461 | 389 | Average: 106,222 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 850. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 948.
1948
Denomination | 1947 Maple Leaf |
1948 | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||||
1 cent | 43,855,448 | 25,767,779 | 69,623,227 | 204 | 144 | 400,133 |
5 cents | 9,595,124 | 1,810,789 | 11,405,913 | 120 | 144 | 86,408 |
10 cents | 9,638,793 | 422,741 | 10,061,534 | 240 | 223 | 43,462 |
25 cents | 4,393,938 | 2,564,424 | 6,958,362 | 189 | 247 | 31,919 |
50 cents | 38,433 | 37,784 | 76,217 | 3 | 3 | 25,406 |
1 dollar | 21,135 | 18,780 | 39,915 | 9 | 6 | 5,322 |
Total | 67,542,871 | 30,622,297 | 98,165,168 | 765 | 767 | Average: 128,153 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,532.
1949
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 31,093,901 | 73 | 92 | 401,563 |
5 cents | 7,603,724 | 231 | 202 | 60,217 |
10 cents | 4,431,926 | 305 | 249 | 40,923 |
25 cents | 1,524,554 | 187 | 204 | 40,864 |
50 cents | 424,885 | 46 | 40 | 19,977 |
1 dollar | 65,695 | 48 | 96 | 8,894 |
Total | 66,980,996 | 890 | 881 | Average: 75,642 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,771. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 2,273.
The demands made upon this department greatly increased in the past few years, and show considerable expansion in variety and quantity of work undertaken.
The new Janvier reducing machine, with all the latest improvements, was received from Paris, France, and installed early in the year. This machine will be invaluable to the Mint in the reproduction of steel master dies from artists' models. It has already given most satisfactory results, engraving three dimensional reproductions automatically in steel dies to the exact size and precise design of the coin or medal desired, from models sculptured by the Mint Engraver. Although the Mint Engraver is highly skilled in the art of hand engraving either in relief or intaglio, this method is extremely arduous on intricate designs. On occasions it will be necessary, however, when master dies will have to be cut directly in the steel by hand, in cases of expediency, or when only a single design is required. Excellent results can be obtained by either method, but the great advantage of the pantograph machine will be the ability to reproduce master dies either from models prepared by the original artist outside the Mint or from our own models made from approved sketches, or suggestions of motifs submitted in competition, of' any desirable design.
- Royal Canadien Mint report, 1949.
1950
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 60,444,992 | 166 | 150 | 352,563 |
5 cents | 12,669,706 | 177 | 100 | 91,478 |
10 cents | 17,823,595 | 628 | 418 | 34,080 |
25 cents | 9,673,335 | 222 | 200 | 45,845 |
50 cents | 2,384,179 | 87 | 40 | 37,546 |
1 dollar | 301,720 | 69 | 52 | 4,987 |
Total | 103,297,527 | 1,349 | 960 | Average: 89,474 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 2,309. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 2,484.
1951
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 80,430,379 | 158 | 150 | 522,270 |
5 cents | 12,642,731 | 192 | 197 | 65,848 |
10 cents | 15,079,265 | 348 | 267 | 49,118 |
25 cents | 8,285,599 | 192 | 197 | 42,709 |
50 cents | 2,421,010 | 55 | 47 | 47,471 |
1 dollar | 411,395 | 111 | 65 | 4,675 |
Total | 119,270,379 | 1,058 | 917 | Average: 120,840 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,975. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for forging was 2,137.
1952
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 68,117,890 | 170 | 140 | 439,470 |
5 cents | 10,921,047 | 105 | 108 | 103,029 |
10 cents | 10,906,655 | 345 | 256 | 36,356 |
25 cents | 8,941,815 | 223 | 377 | 29,806 |
50 cents | 2,606,896 | 93 | 66 | 32,999 |
1 dollar | 417,961 | 82 | 58 | 5,971 |
Total | 101,912,264 | 1,018 | 1,005 | Average: 100,704 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 2,023. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 2,154.
1953
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 67,806,016 | 232 | 163 | 343,322 |
5 cents | 16,635,552 | 227 | 161 | 85,750 |
10 cents | 17,706,395 | 451 | 309 | 46,596 |
25 cents | 10,456,769 | 274 | 223 | 42,079 |
50 cents | 1,630,429 | 86 | 65 | 21,595 |
1 dollar | 1,074,578 | 166 | 82 | 8,666 |
Total | 115,309,739 | 1,436 | 1,003 | Average: 94,555 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 2,439. The total number of master dies, hubs and dies produced for typing was 2,685.
1954
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 22,181,760 | 55 | 71 | 352,091 |
5 cents | 6,998,662 | 132 | 100 | 60,333 |
10 cents | 4,493,150 | 147 | 120 | 33,657 |
25 cents | 2,318,891 | 45 | 46 | 50,965 |
50 cents | 506,305 | 11 | 14 | 40,504 |
1 dollar | 246,606 | 20 | 15 | 14,092 |
Total | 36,181,760 | 410 | 366 | Average: 94,705 |
The total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 776.
1955
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 56,403,193 | 215 | 150 | 309,058 |
5 cents | 5,355,028 | 112 | 98 | 51,000 |
10 cents | 12,237,294 | 281 | 217 | 49,145 |
25 cents | 9,552,505 | 217 | 271 | 39,149 |
50 cents | 753,511 | 21 | 26 | 32,064 |
1 dollar | 268,105 | 25 | 11 | 14,338 |
Total | 84,569,636 | 871 | 773 | Average: 102,882 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,644.
1956
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 78,685,535 | 211 | 171 | 411,966 |
5 cents | 9,399,854 | 120 | 87 | 90,820 |
10 cents | 16,732,844 | 243 | 169 | 81,227 |
25 cents | 11,269,353 | 189 | 247 | 51,694 |
50 cents | 1,379,499 | 53 | 36 | 31,000 |
1 dollar | 209,092 | 52 | 28 | 5,227 |
Total | 11,676,177 | 868 | 738 | Average: 146,546 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,606.
1957
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 100,601,792 | 348 | 226 | 350,529 |
5 cents | 7,387,703 | 57 | 37 | 157,185 |
10 cents | 16,110,229 | 148 | 113 | 123,450 |
25 cents | 12,770,190 | 158 | 189 | 73,603 |
50 cents | 2,171,689 | 36 | 44 | 54,292 |
1 dollar | 496 389 | 12 | 6 | 55 154 |
Total | 139,537,992 | 759 | 615 | Average: 203,112 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,374.
1958
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 59,385,679 | 190 | 111 | 395,905 |
5 cents | 7,607,521 | 68 | 51 | 128,941 |
10 cents | 10,621,236 | 130 | 77 | 103,119 |
25 cents | 9,336,910 | 104 | 142 | 75,910 |
50 cents | 2,957,226 | 39 | 66 | 56,871 |
1 dollar | 3,039,630 | 84 | 65 | 41,076 |
Total | 92,948,242 | 615 | 512 | Average: 165,095 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,127.
1959
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 83,615,343 | 341 | 185 | 317,929 |
5 cents | 11,552,523 | 115 | 77 | 120,339 |
10 cents | 19,691,433 | 266 | 153 | 93,993 |
25 cents | 13,503,461 | 183 | 211 | 68,545 |
50 cents | 3,095,535 | 69 | 61 | 47,624 |
1 dollar | 1,443,502 | 39 | 55 | 30,713 |
Total | 132,901,797 | 1,013 | 742 | Average: 151,455 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,755.
1960
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 75,772,775 | 269 | 97 | 414,059 |
5 cents | 37,157,433 | 528 | 360 | 83,688 |
10 cents | 45,446,835 | 589 | 335 | 98,370 |
25 cents | 22,835,327 | 283 | 299 | 78,472 |
50 cents | 3,488,897 | 55 | 17 | 96,914 |
1 dollar | 1,420,486 | 72 | 49 | 23,479 |
Total | 186,121,753 | 1,796 | 1,157 | Average: 126,056 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 2,953.
1961
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 139,598,404 | 164 | 96 | 1,073,834 |
5 cents | 47,889,051 | 234 | 188 | 226,962 |
10 cents | 26,850,859 | 173 | 139 | 172,121 |
25 cents | 18,164,368 | 178 | 273 | 80,552 |
50 cents | 18,164,368 | 178 | 273 | 80,552 |
1 dollar | 1,262,231 | 71 | 32 | 24,509 |
Total | 237,349,330 | 858 | 756 | Average: 294,113 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 1,614.
1962
Denomination | Coins produced | Number of dies used | Coins produced per die pair | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Obverse | Reverse | |||
1 cent | 227,244,069 | 562 | 489 | 434,434 |
5 cents | 46,307,305 | 451 | 317 | 120,592 |
10 cents | 41,864,335 | 339 | 264 | 138,854 |
25 cents | 29,559,266 | 468 | 662 | 52,317 |
50 cents | 5,208,030 | 70 | 59 | 80,745 |
1 dollar | 1,884,789 | 59 | 41 | 37,696 |
Total | 352,067,794 | 1,949 | 1,832 | Average: 186,230 |
Total number of dies used (obverse and reverse) was 3,781.
Original article in french, April 19, 2011, Production et utilisation des coins.
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