Walter Breen
quarter dollar The 25¢ piece issued since 1796. quarter eagle The $2.50 gold piece issued 1796-1929.
rare: Properly, denoting a coin of which only a limited number exist in collectors' hands. Other uses of the term, as on many modern issues which were hoarded by roll and bag speculators, are misnomers.
rarity scale: Quantitative estimate of population by degrees. That used here is the Sheldon Scale (reproduction by permission):
R-8 Estimated population 1, 2 or 3
R-7 Estimated population 4 to 12
R-6 Estimated population 13 to 30
R-5 Estimated population 31 to 75
R-4 Estimated population 76 to 200
R-3 Estimated population 201 to 500
R-2 Estimated population 501 to 1250
R-1 Estimated population over 1250
receiving basket Newly struck coins drop into it after ejection from the collar-and-die assembly.
reducing lathe Three-dimensional pantograph, the more modern version of which is the Janvier lathe, q.V.
reduction The process of mechanically producing an actual-size master die or hub from an enlarged original model by the reducing lathe; or such actual-size die or hub. Normally these require much hand-finishing work before working hubs and working dies are made from them.
reeded edge: The type of edge found on current dimes, quarters and halves; produced by a grooved close collar since 1828, earlier by Castaing machine. The ribs or grooves on the edge are collectively called reeding.
relief: Details of a design which stand up above the field, in cameo. The higher the relief, the more force -or the more blows from the dies - necessary to impart them to the finished coin or medal.
restrike: Generically, a coin minted after the year of its date, not necessarily for fraudulent purposes or as favor coins. Some restrikes were ordered by Congress (the 1879 flowing hair stellas struck in 1880 after the original group had been given out), a few in the mint's earlier years were due to mint economy, using old dies until they wore out (e.g. certain 1796-dated cents which were made in 1797 or 1798), though most in later years were made for clandestine purposes. Properly, the term restrike denotes a coin from at least one original die used after its date; those from copy dies are more appropriately called novodels, q.v. Ant.: original.
reverse: The "tails" side of a coin, opposite to the obverse, q.v.
rim: Boundary between edge (cylindrical surface, thickness) and raised border of a coin.
rolled blank: Planchet cut from rolled strip, q.v. Ant.: cast blank.
"Roman Gold" finish: That found on gold proofs 1909-10, almost the same as satin finish, but completely different from either old style brilliant proofs or sandblast proofs.
"Roman Head" John Gregory Hancock's satirical Washington cent of 1792, portraying W. as an effeminate, degenerate Roman emperor, in allusion to the President's attack on portrait coinage as "monarchical" and in spiteful revenge for his sabotaging any prospect of contract coinage.
ROSA AMERICANA Legend characteristic of William Wood's 1722-23 coinage for the American colonies, which phrase became for coin collectors a name for the issue. The device appears to have been flattery to George I, falsely characterizing his Hanoverian dynasty as the successor to the Tudor double rose (uniting the White and the Red of the Wars of the Roses, as in certain medalets of Elizabeth I).
Saint Patrick coins: Same as Mark Newby coins, q.v. sandblast proof Type of matte proof in which the finish was imparted by sand-blasting rather than by pickling in acid.
sandwich metal: 1) Same as nickel-clad, q.v. 2) Same as silver-clad, q.v., this meaning much less frequently intended. The term is contemptuous.
satin finish proof: Type of matte proof in which the surfaces have a satiny texture altogether unlike sandblast; details of manufacture unknown. Most familiar - which is not saying much - on Roman Numerals proofs, a few commemoratives, and a couple of the 1921 proof Peace Dollars.
screw press: Essentially a rotating pile-driver, but used for stamping coins. The lower die is fixed in an anvil, generally by set-screw; blanks are positioned atop it by collar. The upper die is mounted at the end of a column fitted with screw threads, caused to descend rapidly with great force by rotating two weighted arms affixed to the top of the column, the arms attached to ropes pulled by teams of men or horses. Only the smallest presses could be operated by two laborers plus the moneyer. The above description holds regardless of whether automatic feed and/or automatic ejection devices had been installed. Syn. : Coyning Engine. Supplanted in more modern mints by the knuckle-action press, which replaces the rotating column by action analogous to that in punch-presses and the types of machinery used for shaping metal parts such as segments of automobile bodies.
second process: Imparting the upset rim (q.v.) to a planchet.
seignorage: The difference between face value of a coin and net cost, which latter is reckoned as the sum of bullion value and manufacturing cost.
set(ting) apart: In modern coining presses, dies are mounted so as to approach each other to within a distance minutely less than the thickness of a finished coin; this process is called setting. Dies set too far apart will not produce a complete impression of the devices, for which reason mint error coins struck on blanks too thin (or intended for smaller and lighter denominations) normally come weak. See set-up trial.
set-up trial: A piece fed into a press to test whether the dies are set apart to proper distance (thickness of coin). It may be of copper or other nonprecious metal