The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 51, December 22, 2002, Article 2

BUCKLED DIE AND DIE BREAK NOT EQUIVALENT.

Dick Johnson writes: "Sorry, Alan Meghrig, a "buckled die"
and "die break" are not equivalent terms (re last week's
E-Sylum). Old-timers used the term buckled die, in modern
times we use the more correct term "sunken die," even
though "buckled" is a very apt description of the struck piece.

It is a situation where the die has deteriorated and this is
particularly evident in restrikes at a later time. The steel in
the center (usually in the center, but it can be in any part of
the striking surface) has receded due to sinking or
compacting. This is caused by any of three reasons:
(1) use of poor quality tool steel when the die was first made.
(2) improper heat treating, or
(3) overlong use in striking.

It is never known in advance when a die will sink, if it will
sink, or how severe the sinking will be. We do know it is
accelerated by intermittent periods of use over a long time.
The very best examples of sunken dies are in the medals in
the Papal Series. Some of these dies have been retained
and struck intermittently over hundreds of years. They
frequently exhibit the domed effect of sinking on pieces
struck years later.

We are indebted to Benjamin Huntsman (1704-1776) for
developing die steel and reducing the problem of sinking
dies. This English inventor and steel manufacturer invented
a method of making crucible steel (1756) for Matthew
Boulton to use for making dies for coins and medals.
Huntsman's firm supplied specialized steel for dies to mints
around the world for nearly 200 years (until 1950).

Early American medalmakers who did not import Huntsman's
die steel had to make their own. They did this by forging and
tempering (like tempering steel for swords). Companies like
Scovill in Waterbury, who used a lot of die steel, purchased
this from men who did this specialized forging, mostly in
Boston and the Connecticut valley.

Scovill required these men -- called DIE FORGERS -- to
sign their diestock so they could identify whose stock was
good and whose went bad (that is, sunk). I have observed
hundreds of Scovill dies; G. Grayson of Providence, and O.J.
Brown, were among the dozen or so die forgers who
supplied Scovill's die stock. These signatures appeared on
the sides of dies, of course, not in the image area (so they are
not obvious on struck pieces).

Most of these old 19th century dies, however, exhibit some
evidence of sinking (albeit small). The concept of sunken die,
of buckled die, is entirely separate from the concept of
diebreaks."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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