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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.