(1976) Blank Pattern - RB-2100, GOULD

Coin Details

Description

Reed-Brenner 2100 is an unstruck quarter-sized blank planchet produced by Gould Inc. for the United States Mint's small dollar evaluation program. The quarter-sized blanks in the RB-2100 and RB-2200 series represent the next stage in alloy testing beyond the dime-sized RB-2000 series, providing planchets closer in diameter to the proposed small dollar coin. The eventual Susan B. Anthony dollar, which entered production in 1979, was deliberately sized between a quarter and a half dollar at 26.5mm in diameter, making the quarter-sized blanks (approximately 24.3mm) a closer analog for evaluating alloy performance at near-production scale. Testing at the quarter size allowed evaluation of additional factors that are diameter-dependent, including the behavior of the metal during the upset mill process (which raises the rim), resistance to edge damage during handling and stacking, and the alloy's capacity to accept and retain a sharp design when struck at the pressures required for a larger planchet. The RB-2100 composition differs from RB-2200, with each quarter-sized blank representing a separate alloy formulation submitted by Gould for consideration.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8. Extremely rare experimental blank. Quarter-sized blanks are slightly more available than the dime-sized series but remain among the rarest pieces from the 1970s small dollar program.

Cross References

Reed-Brenner RB-2100; Gould Inc. experimental program; cf. RB-2200 (quarter-sized blank variant), RB-2000/RB-2010 (dime-sized blanks)