While the mint preferred dies with shallow engraving depth, to help prolong the life of the dies in use, this also meant that resultant coin wear would be very fast. As can be seen in the above examples the importance of a high rim is seen to help coin wear. Did the mint know this? The answer is most definitely yes when we look at examples of Scottish 30 shillings produced at the Edinburgh mint using milling techniques back in the 1630’s. The dies were made by Briot with excellent attention to detail and depth of engraving. The very pronounced large high profile beading around the edge of the coin which is complete on both sides, protects the engraved details in the centre when the coin rubs against surfaces. During the Commonwealth Period the depth of engraving increased with time up to the Cromwell Crown of 1658. The depth with this piece was so high that a coin laid obverse face down will spin very easily and for a long time as Cromwell’s bust protrudes more than the rim of the coin. In 1662 when production of milled coins was started the shallow engraved patterns of the Rottier Brothers was preferred to Symonds high relief profile dies which had a significantly shorter life in use.
One has to conclude that the mint saw denomination values, halfcrown and below, as having a built in defect for everyday wear and tear, which anyway would happen with handling. A new monarch was a time to call in the worn metal coins, melt them down and re-issue.
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