I really appreciated the fact my letter prompted me to do another search for my former die cutter (and maybe now future die engraver), Brian Timmins. More important is I found an old friend.

While he is retired and moved he says he still cuts a few dies for a few special customers from time to time in his son's workshop. I'm glad to see his son is still cutting dies by hand. This is really nearly a lost art.

One of the last dies Brian cut for me (for another customer) goes way back to 2008 when I had the below obverse die cut. (The reverse is one of my stock dies.) It was the very first numismatic item produced with Obama's likeness on it.

While I was not an Obama supporter it was neat to be a part of the production of the very first numismatic item associated with a presidential candidate while still in the primaries who eventually went on to win the presidency. I designed it and had it minted. Three thousand of these were struck in silver and delivered to my customer while I had 50 "Test Strikes" made in bronze for myself (with a different reverse die) that I have never offered for sale for no particular reason other than just not finding the time to market them.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:KEN POTTER ON DIES AND MINTING(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n19a19.html)