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Mint-condition packaging

The United States Mint upgrades cartoning and casing operations for collectible, lens-packed proof coins.

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The United States Mint at San Francisco has recently upgraded cartoning and casing operations for proof coins, replacing an aging packaging and product handling system with more efficient, state-of-the art equipment.

United States Mint public affairs officer Michael White explains, “Proof coins are the finest quality of coin produced by the United States Mint. Their frosted, sculpted foregrounds give them a special ‘cameo’ effect, created by the exacting proofing process. The extraordinary brilliance and sharp relief of the proof coins enable them to shimmer on the mirror-like background surfaces.

“Proof blanks are specially treated, hand-polished, and cleaned to ensure high-quality strikes. The blanks then are fed into presses fitted with specially polished dies and struck at least twice to ensure sharp, high relief.”

Intended primarily for numismatics enthusiasts and collectors, the United States Mint proof coins are placed in plastic cases called lenses, each lined with foam inserts to nest the proof coins. The lens cases, containing various coin counts, are made from crystal-grade virgin polystyrene and are supplied to the United States Mint by Rexam (www.rexam.com).

White notes, “Proof coins are sold as collectibles, and many people regard them as miniature works of art. So the packaging for these coins is selected to showcase and preserve their exceptional finish.”

Automation upgrade

The previously used cartoning system required five operators. The new, more automated cartoning line runs with two operators. “Cartoning was never our slowest packaging process,” says White. “But the new cartoning machine can achieve in three hours what our old system took eight hours to do. And the new line has significantly increased flexibility and reduced costs. The old cartoning line could only run one- and two-lens sets. The new line can carton up to eight-lens sets continuously.”

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